Marietta, Ga. - A five-run fourth inning sent the Scarlet Knights past the Owls to conclude the first weekend series of the year at S. Walter Kelly Sr. Memorial Field.
Early on, Sliver wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the third inning forcing a rollover that McDuffie ushered over to first base, keeping the game scoreless.
A Rutgers double to left center started their fourth-inning surge. A bunt single toward the third base line and a sacrifice fly to deep center field put the Scarlet Knights up by one. Another double into the left-center gap brought another run across.
In relief,
Ty Bayer made his collegiate debut at the top of the fourth inning. Rutgers concluded the inning with a five-run lead.
Halton Hardy was inserted into the game in the top of the sixth, inheriting two runners. He stranded them as he collected his first strikeout of the season, holding the deficit to five runs.
To start the bottom of the seventh inning,
Cam Suto laced a double over the left fielder's head in his first pinch-hit appearance. A pitch then hit lead-off hitter
Chris Cole to get two runners on for KSU. A near home run from
Donovan Cash ended the inning, landing just a few feet from the center field fence.
The Scarlet Knights launched their first homer of the season to go up 6-0 in the eighth inning.
The Owls scored their first run in the eighth inning with a
Wesley Alig fielder choice, scoring
Evan Holstein from third who reached via walk to begin the inning.
Aaron Posey then lined a single through the middle to record his first RBI, scoring
Nate Anderson and bringing the game to within four runs.
Rutgers then piled up another run in the final inning to earn the 7-2 victory.
Spotlights Performances
Next UP
It's a double midweek matchup versus in-state rivals as the Owls take on No. 8 Georgia and Mercer at home Tuesday a 6 p.m. and Wednesday at 4 p.m., respectively.
