Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Breaking open a tight game late, Rutgers baseball picked up a 13-8 victory over Iona Wednesday at Bainton Field. The Scarlet Knights now have won 24 of the last 26 meetings against the Gaels.

The 13 runs marked a new season-high total for RU (5-6), as the offense collected 12 hits and drew seven walks. Fifth-year senior Chris Suseck (Flemington, N.J.) and freshman Jawuan Harris (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) both went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs, with Harris clubbing his first career home run. In addition, junior Gaby Rosa (Perth Amboy, N.J.) stroked two doubles and freshmen Nick Matera (Roxbury, N.J.) and Luke Bowerbank (Bernardsville, N.J.) both notched two RBIs.

On the base paths, Bowerbank and junior Tom Marcinczyk (Middlesex, N.J.) each stole two bases, as the team totaled six in as many tries. The Scarlet Knights are 23-for-25 on stolen bases this season.

Freshman Dante Scafidi (Washington Township, N.J.) made his first collegiate start on the mound and turned in three scoreless innings before departing due to pitch count. The left-hander permitted two hits. Out of the bullpen, redshirt junior Kevin Baxter (Waterford, N.J.) (1-0) collected the win after allowing one earned run in 1.2 innings. Classmate Max Herrmann (Rutherford, N.J.) notched his fifth career save by finishing off the last four outs. The contest was called after the top of the eighth due to darkness.

With the game tied at six heading into the last of the sixth, Rutgers regained the lead with a run using the speed of Harris. He started with a lined single to center and stole second for his eighth swipe of the season. Senior R.J. Devish (Beachwood, N.J.) lofted a ball deep enough to right to allow for a tag-up to third, with a wild pitch going to the screen to permit a run.

Baxter and Herrmann would combine for a scoreless seventh to allow the Scarlet Knights to break open the game.

The six-run rally saw 12 batters come to the plate and was started on a single by fifth-year senior John Jennings (Berkeley Heights, N.J.). Sophomore Milo Freeman (Millburn, N.J.) then laid down a bunt, but it was botched for an error to put two on. After Rosa moved up the runners with a bunt of his own, Bowerbank reached on an RBI fielder's choice. A pickoff went down as the second out, but Harris came through with a high drive over the wall in left to up the lead to 10-6. Marcinczyk, Jennings and Freeman added RBIs to widen the margin to eight.

For Iona (1-8), the visitors collected 13 hits, but committed three errors in the field to lead to seven unearned runs. Travis Mistretta and Lou Matarazzo each registered three hits and three RBIs, while Kyle Ackley (0-1) suffered the loss on the mound. The Gaels utilized five pitchers overall.

After each side went down scoreless in the first, Rutgers dented the scoreboard with a run in the bottom of the second. Rosa connected for a one-out double and scored one batter later on a single through the right side by Bowerbank.

Scafidi ran into a bases-loaded jam in the top of the third, but the defense helped with the escape. With one out, Suseck fielded a grounder at first base and fired home to the force out, but Devish realized the runner rounded third too far and fired behind for the inning-ending double play.

That led to a four-run rally for the Scarlet Knights in the third, sending nine batters to the plate. Suseck blasted a leadoff triple to center, with Marcinczyk following with a walk and stolen base to put two in scoring position. Next up, Matera hit a two-run double down the left field line to make it 3-0. It was not done there, as freshman Carmen Sclafani (Toms River, N.J.) and Rosa both added RBI doubles to increase the advantage to five.

Iona rallied in the fifth for four runs, including a three-run homer by Matarazzo, to make it a one-run game. It would end up being tied after the top of sixth following unearned runs both ways.

However, the Scarlet Knights pulled away late to earn their second home win in as many tries this season. The game-time temperature was listed at 81 degrees.

Rutgers will next embark on its annual spring break trip, starting a three-game series Friday at No. 16 Florida Atlantic. The trek will also include stops at Florida Gulf Coast and Navy.

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