PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Freshman Harry Rutkowski pitched a season-high 8.1 innings, but received no run support as Rutgers baseball dropped a 1-0 ballgame to La Salle Saturday at Bainton Field. The weekend series is now even at one.
 
Making his eighth start of the season, Rutkowski (4-1) took a tough-luck loss as his inherited runner scored in the top of the ninth as the decisive run. The left-hander held the Explorers (8-20) off the board for the first eight innings with four strikeouts, keeping the opponent to 0-for-7 with runners on base. In the fourth, he nearly completed an immaculate inning by striking out the side on 10 pitches. Rutkowski has permitted just three earned runs over his last four starts, which spans 28 innings for a 0.96 ERA.
 
Offensively, junior Tyler McNamara notched the only RU hit of the day. Both Jackson Ray and Matt Holt (1-4) combined to pitch a shutout for La Salle. Holt stranded two in scoring position over the last eight outs to pick up the win in relief.
 
Rutgers (16-11) left six runners on base in the game. The best chance to score came in the eighth when senior Kyle Walker drew a hit by pitch as a leadoff pinch hitter to extend his on-base streak to 23 games. Freshman Mike Nyisztor came on to pinch run, advanced on a sacrifice bunt by redshirt freshman Dan DiGeorgio and then stole third. However, a strikeout and fly ball ended the threat.
 
In the top of the ninth, Austin Constantini led off with a single and moved up on a sacrifice bunt. After a pitching change, Ben Faso delivered an RBI single up the middle to break the ice. Holt dealt a perfect ninth to close it out.
 
The rubber game of the series is set for Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
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