FORT MYERS, Fla. – Rutgers baseball built a 13-run lead in the fifth inning on the way to securing its second-straight victory over Army West Point, 15-7, Saturday at City of Palms Park. The Scarlet Knights have now won consecutive weekend series and move back over .500 for the season at 7-6.
 
Freshman Mike Nyisztor led a 19-hit outburst with four hits and four RBIs, while senior Kyle Walker went 3-for-3 to raise his batting average to .520. Junior Luke Bowerbank contributed three hits and three RBIs and classmate Tyler McNamara scored three times after reaching four times overall. Providing the long ball, junior Carmen Sclafani cranked a three-run homer to help RU reach a season high in hits and runs. All nine starters picked up at least one hit in the balanced offensive attack that saw 13 hits with runners on base plus four stolen bases.
 
On the mound, redshirt sophomore Tommy Genuario (1-0) picked up his first collegiate victory by striking out five over 2.1 innings of relief with one run permitted. Freshman Harry Rutkowski also fanned five and started his outing with four scoreless frames. Closing it out, freshman Jacob Kodros added three strikeouts and classmate Collin Kiernan retired the only batter he faced.
 
Each side went down in the first inning before the Scarlet Knights erupted for six runs on six hits in the second. Fifth-year senior Chris Folinusz and Walker both singled to start, with Welsh laying down a bunt hit that was misplayed to allow Folinusz to cross. After McNamara absorbed a pitch to load the bases, Bowerbank produced a two-run single through the right side and redshirt sophomore Kevin Blum followed with another RBI single to quickly make it 4-0 with no outs. Nyisztor capped the rally two batters later on a two-run single to center field.
 
The scoring continued in the third when Walker and McNamara both singled to set the situation at two on and one out. Bowerbank notched his third RBI of the day with a smash through the right side before stealing second. That allowed redshirt freshman Dan DiGeorgio to drive home two more, as he later came home on Nyisztor's second hit.
 
Rutkowski posted zeroes on the scoreboard in the third and fourth with a 10-run cushion.
 
In the fifth, Nyisztor and junior Nick Matera both singled and Sclafani stepped in as a pinch hitter with two outs. He would lift a high drive over the wall in left field for his fifth career home run.
 
The Black Knights (6-6) chipped back with four runs in the bottom of the fifth to dent the 13-run deficit. However, Genuario entered with bases loaded and stranded all three inherited runners by inducing a groundout. The right-hander would go on to strike out the side in the seventh to wrap his appearance.
 
The last two runs for Rutgers scored on an RBI single by Nyisztor in the sixth, with senior Milo Freeman driving his second career triple and scoring on a wild pitch in the ninth. Army would tally two in their last at bat to set the final score. Matt Ball (2-1) took the loss.
 
The series finale is set for Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
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