Box Score

BRONX, N.Y. -- Behind a balanced offensive attack and three hitless innings of relief by sophomore Christian Campbell (Sayreville, N.J.), Rutgers baseball picked up a 10-4 road win at Fordham Wednesday at Houlihan Park. It was the fifth time this season the Scarlet Knights reached double digit runs in a game.

Offensively, all 10 hitters that made a plate appearance reached safely at least once with 12 hits, seven walks and three hit by pitches recorded. Freshman Kyle Walker (Piscataway, N.J.) had a game-high three hits, while junior Chris Suseck (Flemington, N.J.) registered two, including a three-run double. Junior John Jennings (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) notched his second multiple-hit game in the past two days, as senior Vinny Zarrillo (Forked River, N.J.) and freshman Milo Freeman (Millburn, N.J.) scored twice each.

For Zarrillo, the outfielder recorded his 200th collegiate hit in the seventh inning. It was his 184th game for Rutgers and he holds a career average of .309.

On the mound, Campbell (1-0) made his first appearance since Feb. 15 and shut down the Rams through the middle innings. The right-hander retired nine of the 11 hitters faced and struck out three to earn his first college win. Freshman Ryan Wares (Howell, N.J.) followed up with a scoreless eighth and junior Reed Shuttle (Lansdale, N.J.) closed out the ninth. Making his third start of the season, sophomore Kevin Baxter (Waterford, N.J.) struck out four over four innings for a no-decision.

After the Rams (10-19) scored one on a sacrifice fly in the first inning, Rutgers answered with four runs in the second. Suseck drew a walk and sophomore Chris Folinusz (Cranford, N.J.) was hit by a pitch to start, with Walker singling to load the bases. Freeman next stepped up and drew four consecutive balls for an RBI walk. After a pitching change, Jennings laced an RBI single to center to bring home Folinusz. Walker then scored on a wild pitch and sophomore Mike Carter (Bloomfield, N.J.) plated Freeman on a groundout with the infield back to make it 4-1.

The Scarlet Knights (11-20) responded to a run by Fordham in the third with one of their own in the top of the fourth. Freeman singled to begin the frame and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Jennings. After an advancing groundout, Freeman completed his trek around the bases on a wild pitch.

Charles Galiano homered through a rain shower for the hosts to make it 5-3 in the fourth. However, Baxter was able to prevent further trouble by stranding two runners on.

Campbell then entered on the mound for the fifth and kept the Rams at three to allow Rutgers to expand the lead. Zarrillo collected his milestone hit to start the seventh and stole second. With two outs, Walker banged a lined shot up the middle for an insurance score, raising the advantage to 6-3.

Carter made a nice sliding catch in the gap to start the seventh, helping Campbell work his third scoreless inning of the day. That momentum continued in the visitor half of the eighth as RU batted around and recorded four runs to break open the game. The rally started innocently when Carter reached on a muff at first and senior Joe D'Annunzio (Scotch Plains, N.J.) was struck by a pitch. Sophomore TJ Perkowski (South Brunswick, N.J.) and Zarrillo both drew hard-fought walks to bring in a run, as Suseck delivered a ringing double to the left field corner to clear the bases and build a seven-run lead.

Fordham pushed across one in the ninth, but Shuttle recorded a strikeout to seal the victory.

David Wright (0-1) suffered the loss with four runs allowed out of the bullpen in second, as the Rams paraded nine different pitchers in the game. The home team collected 11 hits offensively.

Rutgers, holding a 5-4 league record, will return to Big Ten play Friday to open a three-game series at Indiana. The opener will start at 6 p.m.



NOTES
Rutgers reached at least 10 hits for the 12th time this season ... the defense played errorless baseball for the 10th time ... Suseck went 5-for-7 with four RBIs the last two days ... D'Annunzio tied a career high with three steals, matching Freeman's total from the final game at Purdue for the team high this year ... the game lasted three hours, 21 minutes.

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