PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Rutgers baseball entered the ninth inning with a 6-4 lead, but Boston College rallied for seven runs in their last at bat to claim an 11-6 win Sunday at North Regional Park. It was the first meeting between the former Big East foes since 2005 and wrapped up a weekend of neutral-site games in Port Charlotte, Fla.
 
Freshman Eric Heatter left in line for his second win, pitching six innings with no walks allowed in his first collegiate start. The left-hander permitted three runs and fanned two in the outing. Following up, graduate student Karl Blum worked two-plus innings out of the bullpen.
 
At the plate, four RU (2-4) hitters posted two hits, including freshman Mike Nyisztor with a pair of doubles. Junior Nick Matera added a single, a double and two RBIs from the three-spot and ended the weekend owning a 1.238 OPS on three multiple-hit games. Also staying hot, senior Kyle Walker went 2-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt, while junior Jawuan Harris reached on two singles and stole a base on a pitchout. Sophomore Kevin Welsh contributed a two-run triple, as Rutgers had at least 10 knocks in each game in Port Charlotte on a .328/.396/.379 team slash line.
 
Scoring the in first inning for the second-straight day, Nyisztor attacked the first pitch against BC (3-3) starter Brian Rapp, the reigning ACC Pitcher of the Week, for a double and moved up on a grounder to the right side by Harris. Next up, Matera smoked an RBI single up the middle. He scored three batters later after fifth-year senior Chris Folinusz and Walker singled to bring up junior Luke Bowerbank, who lifted a sacrifice fly.
 
The Scarlet Knights crossed another with two outs in the second. Nyisztor doubled again, this time to left-center, and ran home from on a hustle infield single by Harris.
 
The Eagles would chip back with two in the fourth, but Rutgers responded with three in the fifth to build a 6-2 advantage. Harris started the rally by drilling a single through the left side, quickly showing off his speed by rounding the bases on a RBI double by Matera. Folinusz then took a hit by pitch, with Walker pushing two into scoring position on a bunt. A tag at the plate went down as the second out before Boston College called to the bullpen to flip Welsh around to the left side. The shortstop came through with a two-run triple down the line in right field.
 
However, BC closed it to a 6-4 game heading into the ninth and strung together five hits, two walks and a hit batter to plate seven in the decisive sequence. Thomas Lane (1-0) closed out the game for the win, while sophomore Eric Reardon (0-1) took the loss.
 
Rutgers will next prepare for its home opener Tuesday against Wagner. First pitch from Bainton Field is scheduled for 3 p.m. and WRSU will have the radio broadcast. BTN Plus will stream a one-camera shoot to view online.
 
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