Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers baseball scored its most runs in a Big Ten game this season, but Northwestern mounted an eight-run rally in the seventh inning to claim a 12-10 victory Friday at Bainton Field. It was the middle contest of a three-game series.

The Scarlet Knights (26-28, 8-15) stole a season-high seven bases, the most for the team since having that many May 7, 2010 versus Temple. Freshman Jawuan Harris (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) recorded his second four-steal game of the season, as that had not happened since 2004 before this season. Junior Gaby Rosa (Perth Amboy, N.J.), junior Mike Carter (Bloomfield, N.J.) and sophomore Milo Freeman (Millburn, N.J.) also took a base. The school-record team mark is at 118 for the most by a Big Ten team since Iowa had 138 in 2008.

At the plate, RU tied its high in a Big Ten game since joining the league with 14 hits. Freshman Luke Bowerbank (Bernardsville, N.J.) registered his second career three-hit game, while fifth-year senior Chris Suseck (Flemington, N.J.), junior Tom Marcinczyk (Middlesex, N.J.), Carter and Harris all notched two hits apiece. Marcinczyk, Harris and Rosa all knocked in two runs to help the team score in six different innings.

Sophomore John O'Reilly (Northvale, N.J.) left in line to win after working 6.2 innings on the mound. The right-hander struck out five in the career-high 116-pitch outing.

After Northwestern (15-38, 7-16) put up a run in the first, Rutgers quickly responded with a three-spot to jump ahead. Carter hit a one-out single and stole second with two outs. Marcinczyk took advantage and roped a ground-rule double to right-center for the RBI. Harris followed that with a single up the middle to drive home Marcinczyk, promptly stealing both second and third. Fifth-year senior John Jennings (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) worked a walk in his at bat and intentionally started a rundown between first and second to allow Harris to come in on the backside of the play.

Both teams added a run in the second. The Wildcats used an error to score, with the Scarlet Knights matching that tally. Bowerbank led off with a double and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Freeman. Rosa picked up an RBI with a single up the middle.

That score stayed 4-2 in favor of Rutgers until the home team inserted another run in the fifth. Rosa reached via a passed ball on a strikeout and swiped second. A pair of outs came after that, but Suseck crushed a double to center to chase home Rosa.

In the sixth, Harris walked and stole second and third again. Jennings then cashed in with an RBI single to left. He moved up on a grounder and to third on a single by Freeman. Next up, Rosa lofted a sacrifice fly to center to make it 7-2.

However, Northwestern answered with an eight-run seventh, using six RBI hits with two outs.

The Scarlet Knights attempted to rally in the seventh with two on and no outs, but came away empty. One inning later, Bowerbank singled and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by senior R.J. Devish (Beachwood, N.J.). Northwestern responded to that by collecting two insurance runs in the top of the ninth.

In the bottom of the ninth, Suseck walked and scored on an RBI triple by Marcinczyk. It was his 13th career triple to tie for fourth-most in program history. He would score on a run-scoring fly ball by Harris, but NU picked up the final outs to clinch the series victory.

Josh Davis (2-3) earned the win for the visitors by recording four outs without giving up a run. The offense had 13 hits, with nine of those coming with runners in scoring position. Freshman Serafino Brito (Oakland, N.J.) (5-6) suffered the loss in relief for Rutgers.

RU will close out its season Saturday against Northwestern at 11 a.m. The program will honor its six seniors prior to the game.

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