Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers baseball suffered a 5-1 loss in its Big Ten opener against Maryland Saturday at Bainton Field. It was the first home conference opener for the Scarlet Knights since 2011 and only the fourth in the last 17 seasons. The series will wrap up Sunday at 11 a.m. with a doubleheader.

Sophomore Serafino Brito (1-6) turned in a quality start with three earned runs allowed in six innings. The right-hander struck out five and walked none in the outing, dealing with three errors. Sophomore Kevin Romero followed up with two strikeouts in 1.1 innings of relief, while classmate Dante Scafidi collected the final five outs without permitting a run. He also punched out two, as the three pitchers did not permit a walk.

Offensively, senior Christian Campbell hit his second career home run in the sixth inning. Sophomore Mike Martinez had two of the Scarlet Knights' (10-15, 0-1) six hits with a single and a double.

Brian Shaffer (4-1) earned the win for Maryland (16-8, 3-1) with one run surrendered in seven innings. Ryan Hill finished the game with two scoreless frames of relief.

The Terrapins jumped on top with an unearned run in the first before Kevin Smith lifted a solo homer to make it 2-0 in the second. Brito retired the side unscathed in the third and fourth, but a pair of errors with two outs led to three Maryland runs in the fifth.

Campbell blasted a solo run to left field in the sixth. However, the Scarlet Knights were unable to rally and comeback in the late innings.

Junior John O'Reilly and senior Gaby Rosa are both scheduled for starts on the mound on Sunday for Rutgers. As mentioned earlier, the doubleheader will now start at 11 a.m., a change from the previous announced time.

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), Facebook (/BaseballRU) and Snapchat (rutgersbaseball).