March 17, 2017 Box Score
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Starting its third weekend series against a ranked opponent, Rutgers baseball dropped the Friday game to No. 21 Florida Gulf Coast, 5-2, at Swanson Stadium. The Scarlet Knights are in the midst of an eight-game spring break trip through Florida.
Both sophomore Jawuan Harris and senior Tom Marcinczyk blasted home runs to highlight the offensive attack, as each now has four this season. Senior Mike Carter extended his on-base streak to 19 games with a 2-for-4 showing and now has eight multiple-hit games this season. Marcinczyk also added a single to finish with two hits on the night.
On the mound, junior John O'Reilly (1-4) kept RU (6-11) in the game by stranding seven runners on base in a five-inning start. The right-hander struck out three and gave up four earned runs. The bullpen followed with four scoreless frames to keep the game within striking distance. Senior Ryan Fleming went an inning, freshman Joe Neglia and fifth-year senior Max Herrmann combined for the seventh and sophomore Ryan Wares recorded three outs.
The Eagles (16-3) picked up two runs on four hits and one error in the second inning to jump out to the lead. However, Harris chipped into it with a deep drive to left field for his seventh career home run. He also homered last season at FGCU.
In the third, Florida Gulf Coast added one earned and one unearned run to go up 4-1. Marcinczyk would respond one inning later with a long ball the other way. The outfielder is up to 16 collegiate home runs with 105 RBIs.
The final run of the game scored in the fifth when an error allowed an FGCU runner to score, but O'Reilly was able to limit the damage by leaving three on the bases.
Garrett Anderson (2-0) earned the win for the hosts by tossing eight innings with eight strikeouts and no walks permitted. Sterling Koerner pitched a clean ninth inning for his sixth save of the year. Offensively, Spencer Levine knocked in two runs.
The Scarlet Knights and Eagles will meet again Saturday at 2 p.m.
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