Box Score

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Freshman Serafino Brito (Oakland, N.J.), redshirt freshman James Torres (Bloomfield, N.J.) and junior Colin Bohnert (West Caldwell, N.J.) combined to pitch a two-hit shutout, as Rutgers baseball blanked Wagner, 8-0, Wednesday at Richmond County Bank Ballpark. It was the second shutout win for the Scarlet Knights this season.

RU won for the seventh time in 10 games to improve to 18-19 on the season, while the Seahawks dropped to 10-23. Head coach Joe Litterio, who spent 12 seasons as the Wagner leader, made his second trip back as the Rutgers skipper.



After escaping a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, Brito (5-2) cruised on the mound with just one hit permitted over six scoreless frames to win his third-straight start. The right-hander retired 17 of the last 18 batters faced and struck out four in the 75-pitch outing, now having surrendered just one run over his last 18 innings pitched. Following up from the bullpen, Torres picked up three strikeouts in two hitless innings, while Bohnert closed the win with a clean ninth. The trio gave up two hits for the first nine-inning, two-hit shutout for Rutgers since May 9, 2007 versus Monmouth.

At the plate, senior R.J. Devish (Beachwood, N.J.) and junior Mike Carter (Bloomfield, N.J.) combined for eight productive at bats at the top of the order. Devish scored three times, reaching via two walks, a single and a hit by pitch, with Carter following with three RBIs on two singles, a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly. In addition, fifth-year senior John Jennings (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) did not record an out by walking three times and singling. Nine different batters notched a hit in the game.

The Scarlet Knights struck early with a run in the first to take the lead. Devish started the game with a four-pitch walk and moved up to second on a single by Carter. A double play threatened to send RU out scoreless, but junior Tom Marcinczyk (Middlesex, N.J.) came through with an RBI single through the right side to bring in Carter.

In the third, Rutgers took advantage of an error to tack on another run. Devish started it again with a single, with Carter laying down a sacrifice bunt that was misplayed to put two in scoring position. Fifth-year senior Chris Suseck (Flemington, N.J.) then lifted a sacrifice fly.

Carter delivered a run-scoring single in the fourth that expanded the lead to five. Jennings began with a walk and sophomore Milo Freeman (Millburn, N.J.) singled to put runners at the corners. However, a fielder's choice eliminated Jennings at the plate and a groundout took place for the second out. Devish kept the inning alive with a walk to bring up Carter, who laced a two-run single, with an error allowing a third run to score on the play.

In the sixth, RU stole three bases to add two more runs. Junior Gaby Rosa (Perth Amboy, N.J.) lined a one-out single and Devish was drilled by a pitch to put two on, as both executed a double steal. Next up, Carter connected for a run-scoring fly ball to chase home Rosa. In the next sequence, Devish stole third and scored on the same play when the throw went astray.

The offensive support was enough for the trio of RU pitchers, who combined to throw 116 pitches in the game.

For the Seahawks, Danny Marsh (0-1) took the loss with one run permitted in a two-inning start. Wagner used seven different pitchers in the game.

Finishing midweek action 2-0, Rutgers will return home Friday at 3 p.m. to start a Big Ten series against Penn State at Bainton Field. All three games of the series will be broadcast by BTN Plus.

NOTES
Rutgers last pitched a shutout on the road May 16, 2014 at Memphis ... the Scarlet Knights have scored 22 runs in the first inning this season … the team stole four more bases to bring the 2016 total to 82, sixth-most in a year in school history … RU now has 11 games with at least four steals … Carter has reached base in each of the last 11 games … Rutgers allowed the Wagner leadoff hitter to reach in just one inning, which was on an error … the game lasted two hours, 44 minutes.

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