OMAHA, Neb. – After splitting a four-game series in Hawaii, the Rutgers baseball team stays on the road, heading to Nebraska for three games against the Omaha Mavericks. It marks the first ever meeting between the two programs. The first game of the series will be Friday night a 7:00 p.m. with Jared Kollar getting the nod for the Scarlet Knights.
In the early going, the Scarlet Knights rank first among Big Ten teams in batting average (.330), doubles (43), doubles/Game (2.87), hits (188), OBP (.430), runs/Game (9.7), shutouts (4), SLG% (.505), OPS (.935) and walks allowed per 9 innings (3.81). The team's marks in batting average (8th), doubles per game (4th) and shutouts (2nd) are all top-10 in the nation.
Omaha will stream all three games for free through
omavs.com,
- Rutgers split its four-game series at Hawaii, dropping the opener on Friday night, sweeping the Saturday doubleheader and losing in the final on Sunday.
- Friday night saw the team's play a wild four-hour game, with RU scoring 4 runs in the 7th inning to take a 9-7 lead before Hawaii answered with 4 of its own in the 8th to take an 11-9 lead. The Scarlet Knights scored again the top of the 9th and had the tying and go-ahead runs on base, but couldn't push either across.
- The first game of Saturday's doubleheader was 7 innings and Jared Kollar carried the team, pitching a 7-inning complete game, giving up just 1 run. Nick Cimillo and Chris Brito each homered and Josh Kuroda-Grauer went 3-for-4 to lead the offense to 13 runs.
- The Scarlet Knights had just six hits in the second game, but took advantage of Rainbow Warrior miscues and were able to push across 6 runs in a 6-2 win. Ben Gorski delivered 4.0 scoreless innings out of the bullpen to earn the win.
- • While the RU offense put up another 7 runs in the series final, the Hawaii offense manufactured 13 runs of its own to earn the win on Sunday.
- Rutgers has posted double-digit runs in 8 games and at least 18 runs three different times.
- Rutgers has 23 innings scoring at least 3 runs.
- Rutgers is hitting .338 as a team with runners in scoring position and has 51 RBIs with two outs.
- Nick Cimillo is slashing .462/.588/.808 with 10 extra-base hits, 15 walks and 20 runs scored. He ranks seventh nationally in on-base percentage.
- Rutgers currently has three players hitting .400 in Nick Cimillo (.462), Evan Sleight (.404) and Danny DiGeorgio (.400)
- 7-of-10 offensive starters are batting at least .300
- Nathan Florence leads the starting rotation with an ERA of 1.69. Jared Kollar is coming off a 7-inning complete game and lowered his ERA to 2.45 in the process. He has allowed the fewest walks per nine innings (0.82) in the Big Ten. His 12:1 K/BB ratio is also best in the conference.
- Rutgers last had a season with four shutouts in 2012. The staff has 10 games so far allowing three or less earned runs.
- The team has six games with at least 10 strikeouts this season with a high of 15.
- Dale Stanavich, a member of the NCBWA Stopper of the Year watch list, leads the Big Ten with four saves, has not allowed an earned run and has struck out 15 batters while not issuing a walk this season
- Ben Gorski has thrown 9.2 scoreless innings of relief with 10 strikeouts and a .176 BAA.
- Rutgers and Omaha will be meeting for the first time.
Rutgers makes the short trip to Lawrenceville for a midweek game at Rider before heading out to Happy Valley to open Big Ten play with three games at Penn State.
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