TEANECK, N.J. – The RIT baseball team opened its 2026 season on Friday afternoon with a 13-8 loss to The College of New Jersey at the Naimoli Baseball Complex.
The visiting Tigers scored twice in the first inning and mounted a four-run rally in the ninth, but a six-run second inning by the Lions proved decisive.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- RIT scored twice in the top of the first on a pair of wild pitches after loading the bases with four walks.
- TCNJ answered with six runs in the bottom of the second to take a 7-2 lead.
- The Lions added a run in the third on an RBI single to extend the lead to six.
- RIT cut the deficit in the fifth when senior Trent Rapp scored on a fielding error by the left fielder.
- TCNJ responded with four runs in the bottom of the fifth, highlighted by a two‑RBI double.
- RIT added a run in the seventh on an RBI single by senior Charlie Slaymaker.
- The Tigers rallied for four runs in the ninth inning, including a three-run RBI double by senior Jarin Moses and an RBI double by graduate student Max Matteucci.
GAME NOTES
- Moses finished with three hits and four RBI, including a three-run RBI double in the ninth.
- Rapp reached base five times (two hits, three walks) and scored three runs.
- Senior Jack Rusiecki collected three hits and scored twice.
- Graduate student Ryan Merkov struck out five over 3.0 innings of relief.
- RIT totaled nine hits and nine walks.
WHAT'S NEXT
RIT continues its opening‑weekend series at TCNJ on Saturday (Feb. 21) with a doubleheader starting at noon.