March 27, 2017
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - In its final tune-up before Big Ten play starts, Rutgers baseball will challenge Monmouth Wednesday at Bainton Field. The game will start at 3 p.m.
TUESDAY BASEBALL GAME AT MONMOUTH RAINED OUT
The Scarlet Knights own the No. 12 strength of schedule nationally and the No. 50 NCAA RPI, which is fourth-best among Big Ten teams. RU has played 21-of-23 games on the road this season.
Wednesday's game versus Monmouth will broadcast live from Bainton Field on WRSU 88.7-FM with Gabe Sustick and RJ Hampson on the call. RVision will also run a one-camera stream online through BTN Plus.
SCOUTING RUTGERS
The Scarlet Knights are coming off their first road three-game sweep since 2013 after outscoring USC Upstate by the count of 26-11 over the weekend. Sophomore Serafino Brito started off the series by pitching seven shutout innings and senior Mike Carter drove in four on the way to a 5-1 victory. Then in the middle game, sophomores Carmen Sclafani and Mike Martinez each hit multiple-run homers to spark comebacks in the sixth and eighth innings. Fifth-year senior Max Herrmann saved the 10-7 win with two scoreless innings. Sophomore Jawuan Harris punctuated the sweep with three home runs in the finale to become the first Scarlet Knight to achieve the feat since 2002. Senior Gaby Rosa took advantage of the run support to collect his 10th career victory on the mound, as RU ran away with an 11-3 triumph.
Harris and Carter combined to hit 17-for-36 (.472) with 11 runs and eight RBIs in four games last week from the top two spots in the order. Senior Christian Campbell also had a .500 on-base percentage over the weekend, while Martinez went 5-for-9 with four RBIs in two games against the Spartans.
For the season, Carter leads the Big Ten with a .402 batting average and 37 base hits, while tying for the top spot with nine doubles. The senior owns a team-best .467 on-base percentage and 12 multiple-hit games, including each of the last four. Harris is tied for first in the league at 13 stolen bases, while ranking second with 22 runs and third with seven home runs. He has a 1.021 OPS (.412 on-base, .609 slugging).
Campbell is slated to make his fifth start of the season on the mound on Tuesday. The right-hander has pitched 22.2 innings with 15 strikeouts, picking up wins over Wagner and North Florida.
Herrmann is up to 12 career saves, which ties Jim Kohl (1988-91) for fifth-most in program history. He has 17 strikeouts in 13.0 innings of work in 2017. Senior Ryan Fleming leads the staff with 11 appearances so far, with freshman Joe Neglia permitting just one earned run in six outings.
NOTABLE
Rutgers has 17 home runs, the most for the team through 23 games since 2010 ... the Scarlet Knights are 36-8 since 2015 when scoring at least six runs in a game and 560 this year ... RU ranks No. 34 nationally with 34 stolen bases.
SCOUTING MONMOUTH
Monmouth started MAAC play last weekend with a three-game sweep at home against Quinnipiac. The Hawks scored 38 runs on 36 hits in the series. For the season, Shaine Hughes leads the offense with a .338/.400/.541 slash line, while Dan Shea has driven in 18 runs. Left-hander Justin Andrews is projected to make the start on the mound and has a 3.75 ERA in 12.0 innings pitched. Overall, Monmouth is hitting .240 as a team and owns a 6.60 ERA.
Dean Ehehalt is in his 24th season as head coach. Click here for more on Monmouth baseball.
THE SERIES
Rutgers leads the all-time series over Monmouth, 27-9, with each team winning on their home field last season. The Scarlet Knights surged to a 20-4 win behind 22 hits, including a pair of home runs by Martinez. However, the Hawks came back with a 12-2 victory the next day.
UP NEXT
Rutgers will start Big Ten play with a three-game series against Maryland beginning Friday. All three contests will broadcast on BTN Plus. The Scarlet Knights have not started conference play at home since 2011.
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