Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Columbia scored nine runs in the last four innings to pull away for a 13-7 win over Rutgers baseball Wednesday at Bainton Field. The game was called after eight innings of play due to darkness.

Sophomore Carmen Sclafani led the Scarlet Knights (15-23) with two doubles and a single, while senior Mike Carter hit a home run and a two-run single for a three-RBI performance. Carter is up to 19 multiple-hit games this season and 199 collegiate hits overall.

Ben Wereski (2-1) picked up the win for the Lions (15-21) as one of eight different pitchers to work an inning for the visitors. Senior Christian Campbell started for RU and struck out four over 4.1 innings, as sophomore Dante Scafidi (0-1) took the loss after pitching 1.1 innings out of the bullpen.

Carter started the scoring right away with a leadoff home run, a lined shot over the right field wall. However, the Lions rallied for two runs in the top of the second. That included a solo homer by Chandler Bengtson and a two-out RBI single from Matt Karo.

The Scarlet Knights went back on top with three runs in the second. Junior Chris Folinusz (single), sophomore Luke Bowerbank (walk) and Sclafani (single) all reached to load the bases, as Columbia then called the bullpen. Following a strikeout, freshman Kevin Welsh extended his hitting streak to seven games with an RBI single through the left side. Next up, Carter ripped a two-run single to center field to make it 4-2 in favor of the home team.

The Lions answered, though, with Randell Kanemaru connecting for a two-run home run. In response, sophomore Mike Martinez worked a leadoff walk in the bottom of the third, went to third on a double by senior Tom Marcinczyk and ran home on a sacrifice fly lifted by Folinusz. That made it a 5-4 ballgame after three innings.

After each side went down in the fourth, Columbia plated one in the fifth and four in the sixth to open up a lead. RU chipped back with one of its own in the sixth. Bowerbank singled with one out and scored all the way from first on a double hit by Sclafani.

After that, Shane Adams hit an inside-the-park homer to give CU an 11-6 advantage heading into the seventh-inning stretch. Sophomore Jawuan Harris did score on a balk in the seventh, but two more came across for Columbia in the eighth and Rutgers went down scoreless. At that point, the umpires called the game due to darkness.

The Scarlet Knights, who have won four of their last five Big Ten games, return to conference play with a three-game series starting Friday versus No. 17 Michigan. First pitch from Bainton Field is scheduled for 3 p.m.

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