| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 1 |
| | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | X | 10 | 20 | 2 |
| Win-Bloodworth (1-0) • Loss-Riddell (0-1) • Save-Adams (4) • T-3:12 • A-198 • Richmond County Bank Ballpark |
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (April 23, 2014) - Rutgers baseball snapped its five-game winning streak with a 10-7 defeat to Wagner Wednesday at Richmond County Bank Ballpark. It was the first road game for the Scarlet Knights in 21 days.
Offensively, five players reached two hits for RU (19-19) in a balanced 13-hit attack - senior Nick Favatella (Washington Township, N.J.), senior Brian O'Grady (Warminster, Pa.), junior Vinny Zarrillo (Forked River, N.J.), senior Pat Sweeney (Sparta, N.J.) and freshman Christian Campbell (Sayreville, N.J.). It was the 17th time this season the team reached double-digit hits.
Rutgers jumped up early to a 5-0 lead by sending 10 batters in the first inning. Freshman Mike Carter (Bloomfield, N.J.) and Favatella both singled to start the game and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. O'Grady next hit an RBI infield single to bring home Carter for the first run. Zarrillo then reached on a fielder's choice to allow Favatella to score. The rally continued on a base hit to left field by junior Joe D'Annunzio (Scotch Plains, N.J.), with freshman Tom Marcinczyk (Middlesex, N.J.) reaching on an error to load the bases. Sweeney followed that with a sharp two-run single over shortstop to force the Seahawks to call to the bullpen. Following an out, sophomore R.J. Devish (Beachwood, N.J.) capped the big inning with a RBI single up the middle. The Scarlet Knights racked up five hits in the frame that last 22 minutes.
The lead grew to six with another run in the second. O'Grady smacked his fifth triple of the season and Zarrillo connected for a RBI single right after.
However, Wagner (12-23) rallied back with six unanswered runs to tie the game. The Seahawks plated three in the second, two in the third and one in the fourth.
RU reclaimed the lead with one in the sixth. O'Grady and Zarrillo both walked with one out and moved up a base on a passed ball. D'Annunzio then hit a ball up the middle for an RBI groundout, bring home O'Grady. The advantage did not last long, though, as the Seahawks scored one on a two-out wild pitch in the following frame.
Wagner went ahead for the first time in the seventh inning with three runs scored on a pair of two-out hits. RU brought the tying run up in the ninth when Marcinczyk and Sweeney both walked, but Mike Adams retired the next three to earn his fourth save for the Seahawks. Steven Bloodworth (1-0) picked up the win, while freshman Ian Riddell (Millburn, N.J.) (0-1) took the loss in his first collegiate decision.
Rutgers, sitting at third place in the league standings, will return to American Athletic Conference action Friday to start a series at first-place UCF.
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