BETHESDA, Md. (March 30, 2012) - Rutgers University baseball scored first, but Georgetown University responded with five runs in the bottom of the first inning to seize control of the game, winning the series opener, 13-1, Friday at Shirley Povich Field. It was the first time the Scarlet Knights fell to the Hoyas on the road since April 15, 2005.

RU dropped to 12-11 on the season and 2-2 in the BIG EAST, while GU improved to 12-14 and 1-3.

Rutgers scored in the first inning to take a quick 1-0 lead after the first two hitters were retired. Junior catcher Jeff Melillo (Annandale, N.J.) singled to left and came home on an RBI double by senior Patrick Kivlehan (West Nyack, N.Y.). The two-bagger extended the third baseman's hitting streak to 10 games.

However, the Hoyas sent 11 batters to the plate in their first at bat, collecting six hits to score five runs. Two of the runs were unearned due to three Scarlet Knight errors in the frame.

Georgetown stretched the lead to 8-1 after four innings, with Mike Garza hitting a two-run home run, and added five more in the latter part of the game to set the final score.

Will Harris (3-1) earned the win for the hosts pitching seven innings with five strikeouts. Junior Tyler Gebler (Toms River, N.J.) (1-2) suffered the loss in his fourth start of the season.

The Scarlet Knights will look to bounce back Saturday at 3 p.m. in game two of the series at Shirley Povich Field. Junior Rob Smorol (Clark, N.J.) will match-up with Thomas Polus in a battle of left-handed pitchers.

NOTES

• Freshman Jon Young (Old Bridge, N.J.) saw his first collegiate action, working a perfect eighth inning on the mound. Classmate Matt Ackerman (Sparta, N.J.) came to the plate for the first time in his career.

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