Box Score

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Rutgers baseball picked up 10 hits, but it was not enough in a 5-4 loss at Michigan State in the second game of a Saturday doubleheader at McLane Baseball Stadium. It was the sixth one-run game in the last 10 outings for the Scarlet Knights.

Senior R.J. Devish (Beachwood, N.J.) sparked the offense with three hits from the leadoff spot in the order, while junior Mike Carter (Bloomfield, N.J.) scored twice on two hits. He picked up four hits in the doubleheader in his first action since the first game of the season. Freshman Jawuan Harris (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) added to the offensive production with his third home run of the season and a bases-loaded walk.

Redshirt junior Kyle Driscoll (Toms River, N.J.) (1-3) made the start for RU and struck out five over 4.2 innings, but took the loss. Out of the bullpen, junior Ryan Fleming (Churchville, Pa.) collected four outs, while freshman Kevin Romero (Garfield, N.J.) and redshirt junior Max Herrmann (Rutherford, N.J.) each pitched an inning. Herrmann induced a double play in his outing.

Rutgers (8-13, 0-2) struck early with a run in the first inning. Devish led off the game with a single, but was forced out on a fielder's choice hit by Carter. Next up, fifth-year senior Chris Suseck (Flemington, N.J.) singled to put runners at the corners for junior Tom Marcinczyk (Middlesex, N.J.), who hit a run-scoring pop fly. However, the Spartans (17-3, 2-0) rallied for two runs on two hits and three walks in their first at bat to take the lead.

In the third, RU rallied for two runs to claim a 3-2 advantage. Devish started it with a two-out infield single and moved to third on an errant pickoff attempt. Carter took advantage of the situation with an RBI single up the middle. Three batters later with the bases loaded, Harris drew ball four to bring home a run.

That lead would hold until the fifth when MSU put two runs on the board. The Spartans would then add an insurance run to make it 5-3 after seven innings.

In the eighth, Harris crushed a long shot out of the park to left to cut it to a one-run deficit. The Scarlet Knights would then put two on in that frame, but left them stranded. Joe Mockbee retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his fourth save. Starter Ethan Landon (2-1) picked up the victory on the mound for the hosts with one earned run allowed over six innings.

The Scarlet Knights will salvage the series finale in a 1:05 p.m. Sunday game at McLane Baseball Stadium. Sophomore John O'Reilly (Northvale, N.J.) will make the start for Rutgers.

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