March 6, 2015 Box Score
BOCA RATON, Fla. - Rutgers baseball dropped the opening game of its series at No. 24 Florida Atlantic, 18-5, Friday at FAU Baseball Stadium. It was the fifth game this season for the Scarlet Knights against a ranked opponent.
Offensively, sophomore Tom Marcinczyk (Middlesex, N.J.) connected for his second home run of the season. Freshman Milo Freeman (Millburn, N.J.) had his first career multiple-hit game with a pair of singles, while junior R.J. Devish (Beachwood, N.J.) collected a double, single, RBI and run scored.
Freshman John O'Reilly (Northvale, N.J.) made his collegiate debut for RU on the mound and provided four innings of relief without permitting an earned run. The right-hander struck out one in the appearance.
The Owls opened the scoring in the second with a solo home run by Esteban Puerta, but the Scarlet Knights responded with two in the next half inning to take the lead. Devish started the frame with a double down the right field line and moved up third when sophomore TJ Perkowski (South Brunswick, N.J.) - making his first career start - laid down a bunt that was thrown away. Sophomore Mike Carter (Bloomfield, N.J.) then drew a walk to load the bases. With one down, senior Vinny Zarrillo (Forked River, N.J.) lifted a sacrifice fly to score Devish, as the relay got away to allow Perkowski to come around as well.
However, FAU (12-2) rallied for eight in the third and seven in the fourth and did not look back from there to seize the victory. Starter Kyle Miller (2-1) earned the win, while junior Howie Brey (Middletown, N.J.) (0-2) took the loss. RU (1-7) was doomed by seven unearned allowed in the contest.
Game two of the series is set for Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Junior Mark McCoy (Barnegat, N.J.) will make the start for Rutgers after not allowing an earned run over 5.2 innings in his last outing versus Old Dominion.
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