CAMDEN, N.J. – Ryan Smolen's top of the eighth inside-the-park grand slam completed a four-run comeback as the No. 6/9 Arcadia University baseball team defeated Rutgers-Camden by a 9-5 final in non-conference play on Tuesday evening.
 
The Knights improved to 29-4 with the victory.
 
Arcadia opened the scoring in the top of the first when Alex Madera led off the game with a bunt single, moved to third on an errant pickoff throw by the pitcher, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Smolen, and scored on a groundout by Justin Massielo.
 
The Scarlet Raptors put up five runs in the bottom of the third to take a 5-1 lead.
 
The Knights began chipping away in the top of the fourth when Joseph Kumar came in to score on a throwing error by the first baseman as he advanced to third.
 
Madera scored to cut the lead to 5-3 in the top of the fifth when a pop-up off the bat of Massielo dropped.
 
Massielo got the deficit down to 5-4 in the top of the seventh when he hit a one-out double down the right field line, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on a wild pitch.
 
The top of the eighth was when Arcadia took control of the game for good with five runs. Nick Bon Tempo began the rally when he was hit by a pitch with one out, moved to second on Emilio Pallante's single to left, and advanced to third on a walk from Matt Donchez to load the bases. Madera tied the game when he walked, and after a pitching change, Smolen lined a 1-0 pitch to right field that got past the right fielder's dive attempt, clearing the bases and allowing Smolen to come home.
 
The Knights' bullpen was the story of the game, tossing six shutout innings to keep the team in the game. Nick D'Apolito, Drew Pecorilli, Gabe Marshall, Zach Steiger (W, 4-0), and Owen Margolis allowed six hits while issuing three walks and striking out three.
 
Smolen went 1-for-3 with four RBI's and one run scored to lead the offense. Madera went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and one RBI while Pallante finished 2-for-5 with one run scored.
 
Arcadia returns to the field on Friday when it will host FDU-Florham for a 3:30 p.m. Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) game.