Box Score

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- In a back-and-forth affair against Penn State, Rutgers baseball fell on the short side in an 8-5 loss Sunday at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. It was the third game of the series.

Sophomore Gaby Rosa (Perth Amboy, N.J.) returned to form with two runs allowed over six innings, leaving in line to earn the win. The right-hander struck out two and stranded seven runners on base.

Offensively, the Scarlet Knights pounded out 14 hits on the day. Sophomore Tom Marcinczyk (Middlesex, N.J.) led all players in the game with three hits and has now made it safely on in 39 of his last 40 games played. Senior Vinny Zarrillo (Forked River, N.J.), senior Joe D'Annunzio (Scotch Plains, N.J.), sophomore Christian Campbell (Sayreville, N.J.) and sophomore Chris Folinusz (Cranford, N.J.) all added two hits each in the attack. Campbell had a team-high two RBIs.

For D'Annunzio, he tripled in the third inning to raise his season total to eight, which is second-most in a year in the program record books. His 15 career three-baggers are three behind all-time leader Adam Neubart (1996-98).

The Nittany Lions (17-26, 5-12) jumped on the board first on a leadoff solo home run by Greg Guers in the first inning. Another run came across on a sacrifice fly, but Rosa was able to prevent further trouble and strand two aboard. In fact, he would not allow another run in his appearance.

The game would stay 2-0 in favor of the hosts until the Scarlet Knights (15-31-1, 5-13) rallied for the tying runs in the sixth. D'Annunzio started it off with a single up the middle and Marcinczyk followed with a single of his own to set the stage. Next up, junior Chris Suseck (Flemington, N.J.) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move up the runners. Freshman Milo Freeman (Millburn, N.J.) batted next and laced an RBI single the other way, with Campbell then singling to left to even the game.

After Rosa left a runner at second to keep it tied, the momentum would continue in the seventh. RU took advantage of three walks, two singles and a hit batter to take the lead at 4-2. After a caught stealing for the first out, D'Annunzio and Marcinczyk both walked, with Suseck hitting a single to load the bases. A short fly ball went down as a second out, but Campbell was grazed by a pitch and freshman Kyle Walker (Piscataway, N.J.) drew ball four to force in a pair of runs.

However, two walks and an errant throw on a bunt eventually led to three unearned runs for Penn State in the seventh. Freshman Ryan Wares (Howell, N.J.) ended the threat with a strikeout, keeping it at a one-run game. It was his only batter faced.

Rutgers answered back and got the run right back with aggressive baserunning by Folinusz in the eighth. He beat out an infield single to shortstop to begin the inning and moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Zarrillo. After an out, Folinusz forced the action on a pitch in the dirt by going to third, as the throw sailed high and into the outfield to allow advancement to home.

It would not stay tied for long, though, as PSU plated three on four hits to take the lead for good in the bottom of the eighth. Campbell (1-1) took the loss in his fourth outing of the season.

For Penn State, Jack Anderson (4-3) earned the win in relief.

The Scarlet Knights will return to Bainton Field Tuesday to host Saint Peter's. The teams will complete a suspended game from the sixth inning at noon and follow with the regularly scheduled contest shortly after.

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