Baseball Clips Monmouth, 4-3

Tuesday, May 15

Piscataway, N.J.

1:00 PM

Rutgers University

25-23

Monmouth

26-23

Monmouth

Rutgers

May 15 | Baseball

Box Score Statistics

Folinusz picks up three hits in midweek victory

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers baseball captured a 4-3 victory over Monmouth to return to the win column Tuesday at Bainton Field. It was the second one-run success against the Hawks this season, as the Scarlet Knights previously earned a 7-6 triumph in West Long Branch in April. In addition, RU finished its non-conference portion of the regular season at 18-9.

Fifth-year senior Chris Folinusz sparked the lineup by hitting a single, a double and a homer to score three runs in the game. The first baseman leads the team with 19 multiple-hit performances and 57 hits overall in 2018. Senior Milo Freeman also had a productive day by singling twice, including once to drive in a pair, to bring his OPS to .826.

On the mound, redshirt junior Ryan Wares made his first collegiate start and tied his career-long outing with three innings. The right-hander struck out two, having last tossed three innings in 2015 versus Canisius. Sophomore Eric Reardon (4-2) followed to pick up the win, logging two frames. Sophomore Kyle Gerace turned in a perfect sixth before classmate Tevin Murray fanned three in 1.2 innings to hold the lead. Closing it out, redshirt sophomore Tommy Genuario left the tying run on third base in the eighth before working a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save.

Monmouth (26-23), winners of seven of the last eight coming in, struck quickly in the first with consecutive ground-rule doubles to start the game. Wares was able to leave two on base to prevent further trouble. He would then deal a scoreless second and induce a double play in the third to keep it 1-0.

Rutgers (25-23) broke through in the fourth. Folinusz hit a leadoff single and stole second with one out. Junior Carmen Sclafani then drew a walk, as both runners moved up on a wild pitch. That brought up Freeman, who connected for a two-run single to right-center that gave the Scarlet Knights the lead.

However, the Hawks the answered with one in the fifth. Reardon was able to hold it 2-2 by registering a strikeout with bases loaded. In the last of the fifth, Folinusz responded by ripping a two-out double down the left-field line, taking third on a wild pitch and scoring on another errant offering.

The game would stay 3-2 in favor of the home team until the seventh when Folinusz lifted a long drive to left field for his second long ball in the last three games. That insurance run proved necessary after Monmouth scored one in the eighth. Genuario took over with an inherited runner at third and induced a short fly to center to end the inning. He would then retire all three in the ninth to record the four-out save.

Regan Dombroski (0-1) took the loss for the visiting Hawks. RU improved its advantage to 30-9 in the all-time series, including the home-and-home sweep this year.

The Scarlet Knights, holding a 12-7 mark at Bainton Field, next welcome No. 11 Minnesota for a three-game series starting Thursday at 1 p.m.

VICTORY! Genuario nails the save in a 4-3 win for Rutgers over Monmouth. Folinusz with three hits, including a homer. pic.twitter.com/7hJxZeEoua
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) May 15, 2018

WATCH IT FLY! Folinusz lifts a solo homer to left for his third hit of the game.

4-2 RU B7 pic.twitter.com/HyDmRyizCd
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) May 15, 2018

Murray strikes out the side! Two left in scoring position as the game moves to the stretch.

3-2 RU B7 pic.twitter.com/gKakOA0TUr
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) May 15, 2018

Safe at home! Folinusz with a great read off third to score on a wild pitch.

3-2 RU B5 pic.twitter.com/wk10EgwNl8
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) May 15, 2018

Base hit! Freeman gives Rutgers the lead with a two-run single.

2-1 RU B4 pic.twitter.com/KOr0sP8TB3
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) May 15, 2018

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