Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Recording its most runs and hits in a game at Bainton Field since it opened in 2007, Rutgers baseball surged offensively in a 20-4 Tuesday victory over Monmouth. Freshman Mike Martinez (West New York, N.J.) highlighted the outburst with the first two home runs of his career.

Playing at home for the first time in 20 days, RU improved to 9-14 and 3-0 at Bainton Field. Monmouth dropped to 11-12 for the season. The last time Rutgers won by at least 16 was a 25-5 throttling of Notre Dame on April 10, 2010.

It was the first time the Scarlet Knights scored 20 times in a game since a 20-11 win at FIU on March 13, 2010, as the previous seven 20-run explosions all happened on the road before today. RU last reached the mark at home with a 20-2 triumph against Boston College on April 21, 2001. As for hits, the 22 knocks were the most for Rutgers since having that total in the Big East Tournament versus Connecticut on May 29, 2010. The last time the team had 22 hits in a home game was May 12, 2005, also a contest against Monmouth.



Including the two long balls by Martinez, eight different Scarlet Knights had a multiple-hit outing. Junior Tom Marcinczyk (Middlesex, N.J.) led all players in the game with four hits, while juniors Mike Carter (Bloomfield, N.J.) and Christian Campbell (Sayreville, N.J.) each had three. For Campbell, it was his first appearance at the plate this season after working back from an injury. Also contributing, senior R.J. Devish (Beachwood, N.J.) reached base five times with two hits, two walks and a hit by pitch, fifth-year senior Chris Suseck (Flemington, N.J.) homered on two hits and junior Gaby Rosa (Perth Amboy, N.J.) doubled twice. Freshman Carmen Sclafani (Toms River, N.J.) went 2-for-2 off the bench.

Freshman Jawuan Harris (Pembroke Pines, Fla.), Carter, Campbell, Martinez and Rosa all scored three times during the game.

On the mound, junior Ryan Fleming (Churchville, Pa.) (1-0) earned the win with three strikeouts over 2.1 scoreless innings of relief. It was the fourth career victory for the left-hander. Freshman Serafino Brito (Oakland, N.J.) took a no-decision with three runs permitted over 3.2 innings in the start. Redshirt freshman James Torres (Bloomfield, N.J.) made his collegiate debut with two strikeouts in an inning of work, while junior TJ Perkowski (South Brunswick, N.J.) retired six of the seven batters he faced to close out the day.

After a scoreless first, Rutgers batted around in the second to take the lead, 5-0. Campbell led off with a single in his first at bat of the season and Martinez followed with a high drive to left for a two-run homer. Following an out, Devish worked a walk, but was forced out on fielder's choice hit by Harris. Harris then stole second and scored on an error hit by Carter. Next up, Suseck capped the rally with a shot over the wall in left for the fifth run. He now has two home runs this season.

The Scarlet Knights upped their advantage to six in the third. Rosa was hit by a pitch with two outs and stole second. He came around on a failed pickoff attempt to second base.

Monmouth chipped back with three runs on four hits in the top of the fourth, but Fleming was able to quell the situation and strand two runners in scoring position. The offense quickly responded with eight runs on eight hits in the bottom half to break open the game. Carter started it with a single and moved up to second on a one-out infield hit by Marcinczyk. Sophomore Milo Freeman (Millburn, N.J.) then came through with an RBI double, also putting two in scoring position. Continuing, Campbell knocked in another on an infield hit, with Freeman also scoring as the trail runner after an error. It was not done there, as Rosa, Devish and Carter all had two-out RBI hits and an error tacked on the final score of the rally to make it 14-3.

In the fifth, Martinez lifted his second long ball of the day, this time a moonshot over the wall in centerfield. Carter and Suseck each earned a walk with the bases loaded, with Marcinczyk notching an RBI single.

Rutgers reached 20 runs in the sixth inning. Campbell roped a double and Martinez walked to set the table. Sclafani collected a double of his own to bring home Campbell. Devish followed with an RBI groundout to finish off the tallies.

James Kelly (0-2) suffered the loss for Monmouth with six earned runs permitted in 3.1 innings. Grant Lamberton led the bats with three of the team's eight hits. The Hawks were plagued by four errors in the field and eight walks surrendered.

Rutgers and Monmouth will meet again Wednesday at MU Baseball Field to complete the home-and-home midweek series. The game will be broadcast by ESPN3 at 3 p.m.

NOTES
Martinez makes it eight different Scarlet Knights to homer this season … he had the first multiple-homer game for Rutgers since Marcinczyk last May at Illinois … RU now has two innings this season with at least eight runs, putting up nine in the seventh inning of the opener at George Mason … Rutgers had 11 of its hits with two outs and eight with runners in scoring position ... Torres and freshman Tyler McNamara (East Brunswick, N.J.) each made their collegiate debuts … it was the second career four-hit game for Marcinczyk … Carter is hitting 9-for-17 (.529) in four games since reentering the lineup … Harris is up to a Big Ten-leading 18 stolen bases, while Marcinczyk took his seventh in as many tries … Rutgers now has seven games with at least three steals this season … Devish and Harris each batted in the first six innings … the game lasted three hours, 25 minutes with the game-time temperature at 54 degrees … the attendance was 177.

Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding baseball, follow the program on Twitter (@BaseballRU), Instagram (@rutgersbaseball) and Tumblr.