Box Score

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. -- Junior Tom Marcinczyk (Middlesex, N.J.) hit a go-ahead home run for Rutgers baseball in the top of the eighth, but Rider rallied for two in the bottom of the ninth to take a 3-2 win Wednesday at Sonny Pittaro Field.

In a low-scoring game, the Scarlet Knights (8-11) held the Broncs (3-14) to one run through the first eight innings. Freshman Serafino Brito (Oakland, N.J.) scattered five hits with three strikeouts and no walks in five innings on the mound. The right-hander surrendered just one run in his third start of the year. Then out of the bullpen, junior Christian Campbell (Sayreville, N.J.) struck out seven of the 11 batters he faced in three hitless and scoreless frames. Three of the seven punchouts were looking.

Marcinczyk knocked in both of the runs scored for Rutgers, adding a single and a stolen base to his fourth home run of the season. Freshmen Carmen Sclafani (Toms River, N.J.) and Jawuan Harris (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) also reached twice, as Harris swiped two bases to bring his season total to a Big Ten-leading 13.

Rider nearly recorded the first run of the game in the second inning, but freshman Luke Bowerbank (Bernardsville, N.J.) fired home to end the inning to pick up his fourth outfield assist of the season. He then would leadoff the next half inning with a single up the middle. After a hit by senior R.J. Devish (Beachwood, N.J.) and a sacrifice bunt by fifth-year senior Chris Suseck (Flemington, N.J.), Marcinczyk collected an RBI groundout.

Tyler Kaiser hit a solo home run for the Broncs to tie it up in the bottom of the fourth.

It would stay knotted at one until the eighth when Marcinczyk lifted a pitch over the wall in right field for his 12th career long ball. However, Rider connected for two doubles to start the ninth and used a two-run sacrifice fly to pick up the victory.

Paul Sparano (1-1) earned the win for the hosts with two innings of relief, while starter Brett Kosciolek worked seven innings with one run permitted. Redshirt junior Kevin Baxter (Waterford, N.J.) (1-1) suffered the loss for the Scarlet Knights.

RU will next travel to East Lansing, Mich., to open Big Ten play with a three-game weekend series at Michigan State. The Friday contest will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network at 3 p.m.

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