BOCA RATON, Fla. (March 9, 2012) - Senior Ryan Fasano (Stony Point, N.Y.) pitched a complete game but Rutgers University baseball could not get the bats going, dropping the opener of a three-game series against Florida Atlantic University at FAU Stadium. The FAU pitching staff held RU to four hits on the night.
Fasano (0-2), who retired the last 10 hitters he faced, went the distance for his second career complete game in a Rutgers uniform. The righty scattered six hits and struck out four in eight innings of work, which was the longest outing of any RU pitcher so far this season.
Ryan Garton (3-1) earned the win for the homestanding Owls, allowing only two hits and one earned run in seven innings. The trio of Austin Gomber, R.J. Alvarez and Michael Sylvestri closed out the game for FAU (10-5).
The Scarlet Knights (3-7) had a great chance to get back in the game in the top of the eighth inning with the bases loaded and one out - down 5-1 - but Alvarez entered the game and struck out the next two batters to end the threat. Rutgers left eight runners on base in the game.
FAU opened the scoring in the first inning on a two-out three-run home run by Corey Keller that snuck over the glove of sophomore Joe D'Annunzio (Scotch Plains, N.J.) in left field. The rally started with a walk and an infield single to set up long ball.
Rutgers put its first run on the board in the top of the fourth on a sacrifice fly by junior Jeff Melillo (Annandale, N.J.) after sophomore Nick Favatella (Washington Township, N.J.) had tripled with one out. However, FAU responded with back-to-back RBI singles in the bottom of the frame to push their lead to 5-1.
Sophomore Ross Costello (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) picked up an RBI single off the bench to score Bill Hoermann (Toms River, N.J.) in the ninth inning.
The Scarlet Knights will look to spark the offense in game two of the series on Saturday at 4 p.m. at FAU Stadium. Junior Rob Smorol (Clark, N.J.) (1-2) will take the mound for Rutgers against by Bo Long (1-0) of FAU.
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