EAST LANSING, Mich. – Following an 8-4 victory in the opener, Rutgers baseball captured its fifth-straight series win with a 6-4 triumph in the nightcap of a Friday doubleheader at Michigan State. The Scarlet Knights improved to 4-1 for their best start to a Big Ten season since joining the conference and best league start since the last year in the Big East in 2013. In addition, the team has won five consecutive weekend sets for the first time since 2010.
 
RU last claimed both ends of a twin bill on March 25, 2017 at USC Upstate, the previous time it happened over a conference opponent was May 11, 2013 versus Georgetown and the prior occasion of on the road in the league was March 26, 2005 at Pittsburgh. Also, Rutgers finished March with 12 wins, the most in the month since totaling 13 in 2001.
 
Freshman Harry Rutkowski (4-0) led the effort on the mound with one earned run permitted over seven innings, striking out four, walking none and scattering four hits. The left-hander has allowed just two earned in his last three outings, which covers 19.2 innings, and Rutgers is 7-0 in games started by the rookie this season. Graduate student Karl Blum and freshman Collin Kiernan combined to hold the lead in the eighth, while junior Serafino Brito locked down his fourth save in his second appearance of the day.
 
Defensively, the Scarlet Knights committed just one error in the doubleheader. The infield provided a clean sheet, with 13 outs on the ground and two double plays in the second game. Redshirt freshman Dan DiGeorgio led the group in his third contest at shortstop with seven assists and junior Carmen Sclafani added five from third base.
 
Both fifth-year senior Chris Folinusz and sophomore Kevin Welsh contributed two RBIs to the offensive production. Sclafani and junior Tyler McNamara joined Folinusz with two hits in the game.
 
The Scarlet Knights quickly took the lead with one unearned run in the top of the first. Junior Jawuan Harris took a walk after falling behind 0-2 in the count and advanced to third on a miscue in the infield. Folinusz then singled up the middle for the first run of the game.
 
Rutkowski stranded a runner at scoring position in both the first and second, but MSU (6-19, 0-4) squared the game with an unearned tally in the bottom of the third.
 
It did not stay tied for long, as Folinusz, Sclafani, DiGeorgio and McNamara all singled within seven pitches to put Rutgers back on top in the fourth. Welsh then attacked on the first pitch and lined a two-run double down the left-field line to pad the lead. Junior Luke Bowerbank capped off the four-run rally with an RBI groundout.
 
Supplied with the support, Rutkowski retired the side in order on a combined 26 pitches from the fourth through the sixth.
 
Rutgers expanded it to a 6-1 game with another run in the top of the seventh. Freshman Mike Nyisztor hit a one-out single, with Harris and senior Kyle Walker both drawing ball four to load the bases. Folinusz then drove a sacrifice fly to center field. Michigan State did match the run in the bottom half, but Rutkowski picked up a double play and a strikeout to end his outing, his longest yet.
 
The Spartans pushed two across in the eighth to cut it to 6-4 before Kiernan dialed up a three-pitch strikeout to strand the bases loaded. Two runners reached base in the ninth, but Brito induced a 4-6-3 double play to close the door.
 
Ethan Landon (0-5) took the loss for the home team.
 
Game three of the series is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. at McLane Baseball Stadium. Freshman Eric Heatter is slated to make the start on the bump for the Scarlet Knights.
 

SERIES WIN! Brito locks it down for Rutkowski & #RBaseball also claims the nightcap at Michigan State, 6-4. Scarlet Knights with five-straight series victories, 4-1 in the Big Ten & 15-9 overall. pic.twitter.com/DffRHUK1WE

— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) March 30, 2018

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