Fall Series: Knights Celebrate Clinching Win
Oct 20 | Baseball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Knights basked in the glory of an 8-2 Thursday win at Bainton Field to clinch the Rutgers Fall Series by the count of four games to two. Kevin Welsh earned MVP honors of the six-game set by hitting 9-for-21 (.429) with runs in five games and only two strikeouts.
After the Scarlet jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in hopes of forcing a game seven, the Knights scored one in the fourth. Milo Freeman, the game MVP, then came through with a tying double one inning later off a 1-2 slider to spark a three-run go-ahead rally. Freeman would deliver an RBI double in the sixth to help make it eight unanswered runs.
That support backed an effective middle relief outing by Serafino Brito (1-0), who struck out four and surrendered just one hit over three lockdown innings. Ryan Fleming permitted one earned run in a three-inning start, while Jordan Matthews closed out the series with a scoreless frame.
Offensively, the Knights put up 13 hits with Welsh going 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI. Freeman, who knocked in three, joined Carmen Sclafani with a pair of hits, with Chris Folinusz and Mike Martinez both walking twice and singling. All nine starters had at least one knock.
Kevin Blum went 2-for-3 with two runs for the Scarlet, as Kyle Gerace (one inning) and Dante Scafidi (two innings) kept the Knights off the scoreboard early on.
In celebration of the six-game victory, the Knights showered Lou Clemente at home plate as the Bainton faithful applauded in approval. Rutgers baseball will next turn its attention to its season opener set for Feb. 17 at Miami.
Fall Series Over! Knights Win! Congrats Coach Lou!! #gatoradeBath #JoeMadden #GoldenTicket pic.twitter.com/vQ149x6N1t
— Joe Litterio (@JoeLitterioRU) October 20, 2016
