Box Score

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - Behind four RBIs by sophomore Nick Matera and four innings of scoreless relief by senior Gaby Rosa, Rutgers baseball took down Iona, 12-3, Wednesday at City Park. The Scarlet Knights drew 12 walks and collected 12 hits offensively in the road victory.

On the mound, Rosa (1-0) worked four scoreless innings of relief in his longest outing since 2015. The right-hander allowed one walk and an infield single to pick up his eighth career victory. That followed up a three-inning start by senior Christian Campbell, who struck out six. Seniors Ryan Fleming and Max Herrmann each pitched an inning to close out the game. For Herrmann, he struck out three.

Matera finished the day with two singles and a double to knock in four runs to lead the offense. It was his second career four-RBI game. Sophomore Luke Bowerbank added three RBIs, while Campbell and junior Milo Freeman both drove in two apiece. Nine different players recorded a hit in the balanced offensive attack.

After Campbell struck out the side to finish off the first inning, the Scarlet Knights (4-7) put up two runs in the second to take the early lead. Campbell led off with an infield single and advanced after Freeman worked an 11-pitch walk. Both runners moved up when Bowerbank laid down a sacrifice bunt, with Matera then driving in Campbell with an RBI single to left-center. After an out, freshman Kevin Welsh extended the inning with a walk and sophomore Jawuan Harris followed with an RBI base on balls to make it 2-0.

The Gaels (3-4) would come back with an unearned run in the second, but the Scarlet Knights quickly answered. Freeman lifted a single with two down and ran to third on a hit up the middle by Bowerbank. Next up, Matera connected for his second RBI of the day on another single to left-center.

An Iona sacrifice fly made it 3-2 after three innings. From there, RU would extend its advantage to four with a three-run rally in the fifth. Senior Tom Marcinczyk started with a single and Campbell and Freeman both walked to load the bases. Bowerbank next recorded an RBI fielder's choice. That would bring up Matera, who crushed a two-run double to the left field wall to make it 6-2.

The lead would grow to 9-2 in the sixth on the three walks to start the inning. Harris, senior Mike Carter and Marcinczyk all took their base and Campbell and Freeman both followed with RBI fielder's choice plays. And Bowerbank would cap the frame with an RBI groundout to increase the lead to seven.

The home team put up one in the bottom of the eighth, but Rutgers responded with three runs in the ninth. Freshman Anthony Greco started with his first collegiate hit and moved up to third when Carter was hit by a pitch and junior AJ Gallagher came through with a pinch hit. It was the first Rutgers knock for Gallagher. With two outs, Campbell forced in a run with a walk and Freeman laced an RBI single to right field. Bowerbank then beat out an infield single for his third RBI of the day.

Stephen Hansen (0-1) took the loss for Iona with three earned runs allowed over four innings. Seven different relievers would follow from the bullpen.

The Scarlet Knights will next travel to Jacksonville, Florida, to start their spring break trip with a four-game series at North Florida. The set will start Friday at 4 p.m.

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