PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Behind four hits and four RBIs from junior Jawuan Harris, Rutgers baseball won its 10^th consecutive home opener with an 11-4 victory over Wagner Tuesday at Bainton Field. It was the earliest home game on the calendar in program history.
 
Harris finished a triple shy of the cycle with his second career four-hit game, recording a home run, a double and two singles. The outfielder also tied his career high with the four RBIs, which was previously done in his three-homer performance at USC Upstate last season. In addition, he swiped two bases to pass Todd Frazier for fourth in school history with 66 stolen bases.
 
The Scarlet Knights (3-4) reached double digits in hits for the fourth-straight outing with 12 on the day. Junior Carmen Sclafani picked up three, as he only need the home run for a cycle, with two knocked in, while sophomore Kevin Welsh extended his hitting streak to seven games by registering two hits to go with two runs and two RBIs. The team had five extra-base hits for the most so far in the early season.
 
On the mound, sophomore Kyle Gerace (1-0) made his first collegiate start after 16 previous relief stints. The right-hander earned his first win for the Scarlet Knights by pitching a career-long five innings with two earned runs permitted, no walks and two strikeouts. Redshirt sophomore Tommy Genuario, sophomore Tevin Murray, freshman Collin Kiernan and junior Serafino Brito all followed with one inning of work apiece out of the bullpen.
 
Harris started the action in first inning by lining his 12^th career home run over the wall in left field. Redshirt freshman Dan DiGeorgio had previously reached on a bunt single. Continuing with two down, fifth-year senior Chris Folinusz and senior Kyle Walker both connected for singles to bring up Welsh, who drilled a two-run double to cap a four-run rally.
 
Each side went down scoreless in the second before Rutgers plated another in the third on the speed of Harris. The outfielder hit a leadoff single and stole both second and third, scoring on a sacrifice fly hit by Walker.
 
The Seahawks (3-3) found the scoreboard with one in the fourth to make it 5-1, but RU responded with three runs in the bottom half. Sclafani first knocked home Welsh on a triple to right-center. Later on, Harris brought in DiGeorgio and freshman Mike Nyisztor on a two-run double.
 
RU put up three more in the fifth after Wagner plated two in the top half. Sclafani ripped another extra-base hit on a double, with junior Luke Bowerbank and Nyisztor later recording RBIs to make it 11-3. Wagner would tag another in the sixth to set what would be the final score. Starter Pat Gallagher (0-1) took the loss for the visitors.
 
Rutgers will next return to the road to take on Old Dominion for the 22^nd consecutive season. The three-game series from Norfolk, Virginia, will start Friday.
 
NOTES
Rutgers has now won five consecutive games over Wagner … it was only the second home February game in program history … Harris is now one stolen base away from tying Mike Helman (1974-78) for third in the school record books, needing 19 to match Doug Along (1991-93) for first place … Sclafani reached three hits in a game for the fourth time … the Scarlet Knights have won 16 of their last 17 home openers … all seven games this season have lasted over three hours … the temperature was 57 degrees at first pitch.
 

AN ABSOLUTE BULLET! Harris smokes a two-run homer down the left field line to give Rutgers the lead - first long ball of the season for the Scarlet Knights.

2-0 RU B1 pic.twitter.com/xKgR1NBFFs

— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) February 27, 2018

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