Box Score

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. - In a low-scoring midweek matchup, Rutgers baseball came up on the short side in a 3-2 road loss against Villanova Wednesday at Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth. The all-time series is now knotted at 39-39-1 since 1948.

Senior Christian Campbell (2-2) took a tough-luck defeat in a 5.2-inning start. The right-hander surrendered just two earned runs and struck out five. Senior Ryan Fleming followed and retired all four batters faced, while fifth-year senior Max Herrmann dealt a scoreless ninth.

At the plate, sophomore Mike Martinez had his second three-hit game of the season on two singles and a double. The left fielder also stole two bases and knocked in a run. Senior Mike Carter added a pair of singles for his 13th multiple-hit game in 2017. The Scarlet Knights (10-18) swiped four bases in five attempts on the day.

Villanova (4-16) scored first with a run on a sacrifice fly in the first, but Rutgers quickly matched it in the second. Martinez hit a one-out single up the middle and then stole second and third. Next up, junior Milo Freeman lifted a run-scoring fly ball to even the game.

Campbell settled in after that with two strikeouts in the bottom of the second and fanned another to strand a runner at third in the next frame. He had a stretch of retiring 9-of-10 batters through the fifth.

Then in the sixth, the Scarlet Knights took the lead with one run. Sophomore Nick Matera worked a leadoff walk and advanced on a sacrifice bunt laid down by Campbell. Martinez stepped up and rifled a line drive over the left fielder for an RBI double.

However, the Wildcats responded with two in the bottom half. Two singles started the inning, as an error allowed in a run. A squeeze play would eventually push the home team in front.

Ryan Pfutzenreuter (1-1) held on to the lead to earn the win for Villanova. In the ninth, Martinez hit a leadoff, but a double play erased the runner.

The Scarlet Knights will return to Big Ten play this weekend with a trip to first-place Minnesota. The three-game series will start Friday at 4 p.m. ET.

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