Union, N.J. (Apr. 12, 2017) - Rutgers-Newark (15-6-1) scored single runs in the eighth and ninth innings to earn an 8-8 tie with #11 Alvernia University (21-4-2) Wednesday afternoon in non-conference baseball action at Kean University.

A day after the two teams combined for 35 runs at the Crusaders home in Angelica Park, Alvernia scored a single run in the top of the first and held a 1-0 lead into the fourth inning behind senior starter Ryan Sheekey.

Newark loaded the bases with two outs aided by a pair of Alvernia errors and a walk.  The Raiders cleared the bases with back-to-back two-out singles and took a 3-0 lead before Sheekey ended the inning with a strikeout.

As the Crusaders did time and again on Tuesday, they quickly posted a crooked number scoring three times in the top of the fifth to regain a 4-3 lead.  Nathan Sides started the scoring with a solo homer to lead off the inning and Cameron Coons and Dillon Dunne added run-scoring singles.

Newark posted the third 3-run inning of the game in the sixth to take a 6-4 lead, but Alvernia scored twice in the seventh and eighth to go up 8-6.

The Crusaders loaded the bases with no one out in the top of the seventh and the Raiders looked like they might get out of it with back-to-back strikeouts, but Sides spoiled those plans delivering a 2-run double to right center.

Matt Briner delivered a run in the eighth with a triple then scored on a squeeze bunt from Dunne.

Newark scratched out a run in the bottom of the eighth and after a run-scoring double in the ninth, had the winning run at third when Alvernia reliever Zack Landy got a grounder to end the inning. Both teams decided to call it a day instead of play extra innings with darkness looming.

Sides finished the day 4-for-6 at the plate with three RBIs and went 9-for-12 in the two-game, mid-week set.

Alvernia returns to the conference schedule hosting Albright College on Thursday

#11 Alvernia 8, Rutgers-Newark 8