CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Rutgers baseball erased a nine-run deficit with 10 runs in the top of the fourth, but ultimately dropped a 13-12 slugfest at No. 18 Illinois in a game fitting for a Friday the 13^th. The seesaw affair featured a combined 29 hits, but only 13 left on base. The loss broke the Scarlet Knights' streak of six-straight wins in series openers.
 
The RU (18-12, 4-3) starting nine all recorded at least one hit, with junior Jawuan Harris leading by finishing 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two stolen bases. Junior Nick Matera and fifth-year senior Chris Folinusz also boarded the bases three times on two hits and a walk, as Folinusz owns 14 hits in his last eight games. In addition, senior Milo Freeman hit his second home run of the year. RU has now scored 10 or more runs in a game eight times this season.
 
Redshirt sophomore Tommy Genuario highlighted the pitching with two scoreless frames of relief after the team had rallied to take the lead.
 
In a meeting between two programs tied for third in the Big Ten standings, Illinois (21-8, 7-3) struck first by registering nine runs on eight hits in its first at bat. The inning saw two home runs.
 
However, senior John O'Reilly righted the course and battled back to post two scoreless frames to keep it there. He was off the hook after the Scarlet Knights sent 14 men to the plate to cross 10 times in a stunning rally in the fourth. It was the first time the team scored double-digit runs in a frame since bringing in 11 at home versus Georgetown on May 11, 2013.
 
It all started when redshirt freshman Dan DiGeorgio worked a five-pitch walk, Matera singled and Folinusz singled to load the bases with no outs. Harris brought home the initial tally on a sacrifice fly, with Sclafani then smacking an RBI double to left-center to make it 9-2. However, a strikeout went down as the second out, but RU would add eight more in the outburst.
 
Sophomore Kevin Welsh dropped in a two-run double to cut it to a five-run game, as junior Luke Bowerbank reached on an infield single to move the line along. Next up, freshman Mike Nyisztor engaged in a 10-pitch confrontation before putting the ball in play and making it on via error, which brought in Welsh. The Scarlet Knights followed by putting a first and third play on that caught Nyisztor between first and second, with Bowerbank dashing to the plate to steal home.
 
Now at 9-6 and the momentum in full swing, DiGeorgio came through with an RBI single to right field that forced the Fighting Illini to call the bullpen. Matera greeted the reliever by singling and Folinusz walked to reload the bases. Harris next delivered the capper by driving a ball off the top of the wall that chased everyone home and put the Scarlet Knights remarkably ahead, 10-9.
 
Genuario dealt a shutdown inning right after. Then to the start the top of the fifth, Freeman blasted a solo homer to left-center to make it an 11-0 run.
 
Illinois, updating their total for the first time since the first inning, responded in the bottom of the sixth with three runs to reclaim the lead at 12-11. That did not last long when Rutgers evened the game in the seventh. Harris lined a single, stole second, stole third and crossed home on an RBI grounder from Bowerbank.
 
The winning run from the home team was driven in on a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the eighth by Jeff Korte. Ryan Thompson (7-2) collected the win from the bullpen, Joey Gerber earned his 10^th save and redshirt junior Ryan Wares (1-1) took the loss.
 
Game two of the three-game weekend set is scheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m. ET from Illinois Field. Freshman Harry Rutkowski will take the ball for the Scarlet Knights.
 

WATCH IT FLY! Freeman absolutely crushes a solo homer to left-center for his second of the year. Scarlet Knights on an 11-0 run!

11-9 RU T5 pic.twitter.com/gSNAaeiiOP

— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) April 14, 2018

RUTGERS IS IN THE LEAD! Harris crushes a three-run double and 10 runs are home this inning.

10-9 RU T4 pic.twitter.com/KJyiYDunMG

— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) April 14, 2018

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