April 30, 2017 Box Score
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers baseball fell behind early and could not recover in an 8-3 loss to No. 17 Michigan in the Sunday series finale at Bainton Field. The Scarlet Knights dropped to 2-1 in Big Ten rubber games this season.
After RU (16-25, 5-7) faced a seven-run deficit, the bullpen held the Wolverines (33-10, 9-6) to one unearned run over the last five innings. Fifth-year senior Max Herrmann led the effort with a career-high 3.1 innings in relief. The left-hander lowered his ERA to 2.59 with the outing. Following up, senior Ryan Fleming stranded two inherited runners with a pair of strikeouts, while freshman Tevin Murray worked a scoreless ninth.
Offensively, the Scarlet Knights were held to four hits. Sophomore Nick Matera collected a two-run single to highlight the hitting, also adding a walk. Senior Tom Marcinczyk collected his 197th collegiate hit in the fourth inning.
Each team went down in the first two innings before Michigan broke through for three runs on two hits and an error in the third. Then in the fourth, six hits brought in four runs to make it 7-0.
Rutgers chipped into the deficit with a three-run fourth inning. Sophomore Mike Martinez drew a leadoff walk and Marcinczyk and senior Christian Campbell singled to load the bases. Next, junior Chris Folinusz struck an RBI grounder to move everyone up before Matera laced a two-run single to center field.
However, Michael Hendrickson (5-1) did not allow another run to earn the win in a six-inning start. William Tribucher then came on to strike out six in three frames of relief for the save. Junior John O'Reilly (4-6) took the loss to snap his three-game winning streak.
The Scarlet Knights will wrap up a five-game homestand with a Tuesday matinee against Wagner. First pitch from Bainton Field is set for 1 p.m.
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