Baseball Falls in Season Opener at Rutgers-Camden

CAMDEN, N.J., Tuesday, March 1, 2011-- Arcadia University Baseball traveled across the Delaware River to take on the Scarlet Raptors of Rutgers-Camden University Tuesday afternoon at Campbell's Field and dropped their season opener 14-3. First-year rightfielder Pat Kwaitkowski paced the Knights with two runs off of two hits while senior starter Jason Heryla was tagged with the loss. The game, which lasted 2:53, was called after seven-and-a-half innings due to darkness. Rutgers-Camden improves to 3-1 overall. Arcadia (0-1) will look forward to Thursday's home opener against Lancaster Bible College.

Junior second baseman Jon Hydock (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) went 4-for-5 to pace a 16-hit attack and the Rutgers University-Camden baseball team also took advantage of four walks, a hit batsman and five Arcadia University errors.

The Scarlet Raptors plated six runs in the first three innings, taking the lead for good in the bottom of the first on a two-out double by sophomore shortstop George Spingler and a run-scoring single to right by junior first baseman C.J. Mooney.

Rutgers-Camden added three unearned runs in the second inning off Arcadia starter Jason Heryla. The Raptors collected three hits and the Knights contributed three errors in the frame, which featured an RBI triple by senior centerfielder Tom Clarke.

Two more runs were plated in the third on two hits and an error. Hydock had an RBI double and sophomore catcher Joe DiMento plated another run with a sacrifice fly.

While the Raptors were busy scoring, senior righty Anthony Cavalier was shutting down the Arcadia bats despite scattering five walks and four hits over five innings. Cavalier, who improved to 2-0, worked out of several jams, including some not entirely of his making, and finished with 10 strikeouts in his second start of the season. He actually struck out four batters in the opening frame, as one reached on a wild pitch, and fanned three in the third inning, including one who reached on a passed ball.

Arcadia finally broke through in the fifth against Cavalier, scoring a two runs on a pair of infield hits, a walk and a two-run single by junior catcher Adam Planamento.

After the Raptors countered with a run in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single by junior designated hitter Joe Merlino, they broke the game open with a seven-run seventh. The big inning featured six hits, three walks and a hit batsman. One of the hits was a two-run single by junior leftfielder Jon Siswo.

Rutgers-Camden freshman righty Al Antuzzi worked the final three innings to collect a save in his collegiate debut. He allowed four hits and one walk, while striking out one. He surrendered one run in the top of the eighth inning on an RBI single by Arcadia junior Kyle Jackson, who saw action in both center field and at first base during the game.

In addition to Hydock's 4-for-5 performance, Mooney went 3-for-4 for the Raptors, while Spingler, Siswo and junior third baseman John Santilli each added two hits. Siswo and DiMento each had two RBIs, while Santilli scored three runs and Clarke, Spingler, Siswo and Merlino each scored twice.

Arcadia's eight-hit attack featured two hits apiece from junior shortstop/pitcher Marc Gottfried and first-year rightfielder Patrick Kwiatkowski.

Heryla took the loss while allowing 13 hits, two walks and 11 runs in six innings. Seven of the runs were earned. He also struck out one.

Arcadia is scheduled to open its home season Thursday with a 3 p.m. game against Lancaster Bible College.

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