Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - In the backend of a Friday doubleheader, Rutgers baseball took a 7-5 loss to Illinois at Bainton Field. The Scarlet Knights previously earned an 8-3 victory to start the day.

Freshman Kevin Welsh led RU (18-29, 6-11) with three RBIs on a pair of singles, while senior Christian Campbell reached base three times on a double, a single and a walk to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. Junior Chris Folinusz added two hits in the team's 11-hit attack.

On the mound, senior Gaby Rosa (3-6) made his ninth start of the season and went 3.2 innings. Freshman Eric Reardon followed up with 2.1 scoreless frames, with sophomore Kevin Romero logging two innings. Sophomore Ryan Wares worked the ninth without permitting a run.

The Fighting Illini (22-25, 8-12) struck first with a leadoff homer by Jack Yalowitz and added an unearned tally. Rutgers matched the two runs in the bottom of the second. Folinusz started with a two-out single and sophomore Carmen Sclafani doubled to put two aboard. That brought up Welsh, who lined a two-run single to center field.

After that, the visitors plated one in the third and three in the fourth to open up a four-run lead. RU chipped back with three in the sixth. Senior Tom Marcinczyk singled, sophomore Nick Matera singled and Campbell walked to load the bases with no outs. That forced a pitching change, as Folinusz came through with an RBI single. A double play occurred, but Welsh knocked in another run with a single up the middle to make it a 6-5 game.

Illinois added an insurance run in the seventh, with Rutgers stranding one in the seventh and two in the eighth. Joey Gerber then entered in the ninth and recorded his eighth save. Starter Cyrillo Watson (3-4) was credited with the win.

The rubber game of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m.

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