Hoboken, N.J. – The Stevens Institute of Technology took down Rutgers-Newark in their home opener on Tuesday afternoon, securing a commanding 15-2 victory.
 
Eli Somers powered the Ducks (1-2) with two home runs, while Joseph Bernardo and Dario Morales contributed RBIs for RU-N (1-2).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless first inning, Stevens broke through in the second with two runs. First-year Jack Reichlin kept the inning alive with an infield single and advanced on a first-pitch single by senior Evan Pravato. After senior Colby Ching drew a four-pitch walk, first-year catcher Aaron Wong lined a single up the middle, scoring Reichlin and Pravato to give Stevens a 2-0 lead.
 
The Ducks extended their lead in the third, plating three runs. Victor Schilleci led off after being hit by a pitch, advanced on a wild pitch, and then Somers crushed a 2-2 offering over the right-center field wall, doubling the lead. Just four pitches later, Luke Mahala followed with a low line drive over the right-center field fence, pushing the advantage to 5-0.
 
Rutgers-Newark got on the board in the fourth. With runners on second and third and two outs, a strikeout resulted in a wild pitch, allowing a run to score. An infield single plated another before Sean Shea entered in relief and induced a groundout to end the frame. Ching and Wong led off the bottom half with singles and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Liam DeRubertis. Schilleci then delivered a sacrifice fly to deep center, making it 6-2.
 
Stevens widened the margin in the fifth. After Somers singled and Mahala doubled, a walk to Pravato loaded the bases. Ching then laced a single to left, scoring one. The bullpen held the lead, as Matt Villapiano and Marc Rivera each tossed a scoreless frame, keeping the score at 7-2 through six and a half innings.
 
The Ducks broke the game open in the seventh. Walks to Wong, Schilleci, and Chip Krese loaded the bases with two outs before Somers launched a grand slam to right field, stretching the lead to nine.
 
Stevens added three more runs in the eighth. Walks to Wong, E.J. Balewitz, Jr.., and Kieran O'Brien loaded the bases before Jason Wu and Henry Parson each drew RBI walks. Robert Savely capped off the scoring with an RBI single.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Wong recorded his first collegiate hit and RBI in his first career start.
• Reichlin, who started in centerfield, notched his first career hit with an infield single in the second.
• Somers and Mahala hit back-to-back home runs, marking the first duo to do so since Somers and Schilleci accomplished the feat against New Jersey City University on April 25, 2023.
• Somers' grand slam and two-homer performance were the first since his effort against NJCU in April 2023.
• Savely came off the bench and went 2-for-2.
• Jonah Swarts earned the win, tossing three scoreless innings with two strikeouts.
• The bullpen combined for six scoreless innings and recorded nine strikeouts, led by three from Jacob Buurman. 

UP NEXT
Stevens will visit William Paterson on Thursday, with first pitch in Wayne, N.J., scheduled for 2:15 p.m.