Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Starting a 10-game homestand with a victory, Rutgers baseball held off NJIT, 5-3, Tuesday at Bainton Field. It marked the 15th consecutive home win for the Scarlet Knights, the second-longest active streak in the nation.

Sophomore Kevin Baxter (Waterford, N.J.) (1-0) made his first start of the season and picked up the win with three runs allowed over 5.2 innings. The right-hander has now won his last five starts in the regular season. Sophomore Colin Bohnert (West Caldwell, N.J.) followed and retired all four batters faced in relief, while sophomore Kyle Driscoll (Toms River, N.J.) struck out two over the final two innings to register the save.

Eight different hitters collected a hit for the Scarlet Knights in a balanced offensive approach. Sophomore Tom Marcinczyk (Middlesex, N.J.) notched three RBIs to continue his hot hitting, with senior Joe D'Annunzio (Scotch Plains, N.J.) scoring twice. RU added three stolen bases, two sacrifice bunts and two sacrifice flies in the ballgame.

Rutgers (6-14) scored first for the third consecutive game with two runs in the first inning. Sophomore Mike Carter (Bloomfield, N.J.) worked a walk to start and moved up when D'Annunzio was hit by a pitch. Both runners stole and Marcinczyk followed with a lined two-run single to left-center to give RU a lead it would not relinquish.

After the Highlanders (6-7) chipped back with a run in the third on a sacrifice fly, Rutgers answered with one of its own in the bottom half. D'Annunzio hit his second triple of the season and Marcinczyk knocked him home with a run-scoring fly ball, his third RBI of the game.

Sophomore Chris Folinusz (Cranford, N.J.) delivered another sacrifice fly in the fourth to make it 4-1. Sophomore Christian Campbell (Sayreville, N.J.) and junior Chris Suseck (Flemington, N.J.) both singled to begin and advanced up on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Kyle Walker (Piscataway, N.J.).

NJIT rallied for two runs on four hits in the sixth to bring it to a 4-3 game. However, Bohnert entered from the bullpen and stranded an inherited runner. The bats responded quickly with Suseck walking, moving up on another bunt by Walker and scoring on a fielding error.

Driscoll permitted a one-out walk in the ninth, but recovered to get a foul out and strikeout to seal the victory. It was his first relief appearance of the season.

Johnny Malatesta (2-1) took the loss for the Highlanders with four runs surrendered over four innings. Third baseman Mike Rampone led all hitters in the game with three hits.

Rutgers will continue its homestand with a Wednesday contest against Rider. First pitch from Bainton Field is set for 3 p.m.

NOTES
Rutgers is on a season-best three-game winning streak ... the defense turned a season-high three double plays in the infield and added a fourth twin killing through a missed tag-up at second base ... it was the first home game since returning from an eight-game spring break trip to Indiana ... Marcinczyk has now reached base in 14 consecutive games ... RU is now 109-57-1 (.657) at Bainton Field since it opened in 2007 ... the offense has scored more times in the third inning (20) compared to any other frame ... the Scarlet Knights improved to 5-0 against NJIT, with Tuesday marking the first meeting since 2011 ... the game lasted two hours, 11 minutes and the game-time temperature was 41 degrees.

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