PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers baseball (8-10) fell to Cal Baptist (9-9), 10-4, in the series opener Friday at Bainton Field. It was the first all-time meeting between the programs on the diamond.
 
The Lancers used five runs in the first two innings and a 6.2-inning start by Cody New (3-1) to take the win. The lefty stranded eight Scarlet Knights on base in the outing.
 
Peyton Bonds went 3-for-4 with a walk and three RBIs for Rutgers. Nick Tomasetto contributed a pinch-hit single to drive in one as RU posted 12 hits overall.
 
After the Lancers posted three runs on three hits in the first, the Scarlet Knights responded with a pair. Trevor Cohen led off with a single before Brennan Hyde doubled and Bonds delivered a two-run single through the right side one batter later.
 
Cal Baptist then added two in the second to take a 5-2 lead.
 
The teams traded zeros on the scoreboard from there until the top of the seventh, as a two-out RBI single put the visitors up by four. Cal Baptist tacked on four in the eighth.
 
In the ninth, Jack Sweeney doubled and scored on an RBI single by Tomasetto. Bonds added his third RBI of the day with a single up the middle.
 
Justin Shadek (0-2) posted three consecutive scoreless innings to end his start, striking out six overall. Matthew Cruz fanned two over 1.1 scoreless innings in his collegiate debut.
 
Game two of the series is set for Saturday at 2 p.m. In a schedule update, Sunday's series finale will now start at 10:30 a.m.
 

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