Baseball Drops BTN Game at Purdue

Saturday, April 28

West Lafayette, Ind.

6:00 PM

Rutgers University

22-17, 6-8

Purdue

23-16, 9-4

Rutgers

Purdue

Apr 28 | Baseball

Box Score Statistics

Genuario pitched a career-high four innings

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Rutgers baseball was unable to dig out of an early deficit in a 9-4 defeat Saturday at Purdue. The contest aired live on Big Ten Network.

The Scarlet Knights (22-17, 6-8) picked up 10 hits at the plate, with junior Nick Matera, fifth-year senior Chris Folinusz and redshirt freshman Dan DiGeorgio each collecting two. Matera drove in a pair to raise his season total to 29 RBIs, which matches the team lead. Junior Tyler McNamara and sophomore Kevin Welsh also knocked in runs. For Welsh, he became the seventh different player in the lineup to reach 20 RBIs this season.

Redshirt sophomore Tommy Genuario pitched a career-high four innings of relief with two runs permitted. He has surrendered just those two runs in his last 13.2 innings. Sophomore Tevin Murray contributed one scoreless innings out of the bullpen and punched out two.

Purdue (23-16, 9-4) took the early lead with three runs in the first, two scoring after an error. Two more then came across in the second to put the home team up five.

RU scratched back with one in the third when junior Jawuan Harris walked and came all the way around from first on a double to the left field corner by Matera. It was Matera's 12^th double of the season. However, Purdue added two more in the fourth to build a 7-1 advantage.

Genuario would keep it there through the middle innings, finishing his outing with three strikeouts.

In the seventh, junior Luke Bowerbank singled and freshman Mike Nyisztor walked. Matera then went against the shift with two outs for his second RBI of the night. The Boilermakers answered with two in the bottom half to make it 9-2.

Rutgers continued to chip back in the eighth after recording four consecutive hits to begin the inning. Folinusz started it with a single before DiGeorgio advanced him on another single. McNamara and Welsh followed with RBI hits of their own. The Scarlet Knights went down in order in the ninth.

Gareth Stroh (5-2) earned the win by pitching 6.1 innings with two runs allowed. Freshman Harry Rutkowski (4-4) took the loss.

The series finale is scheduled for Sunday at 11 a.m. from Alexander Field.

Murray strikes out two & Bowerbank makes a nice play to move the game to the ninth. Last chance for the Scarlet Knights.

9-4 PUR T9 pic.twitter.com/B4L87kVzJh
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) April 29, 2018

And Welsh follows with a single of his home to score DiGeorgio. He becomes the seventh Scarlet Knight with 20 or more RBIs this season.

9-4 PUR T8 pic.twitter.com/yAlsopXdbF
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) April 29, 2018

McNamara shoots an RBI single to bring home Folinusz. Now first and third with no outs.

9-3 PUR T8 pic.twitter.com/DU6xRN3QJo
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) April 29, 2018

Matera now with two RBIs today & 29 on the season after connecting for a two-out single through the right side.

7-2 PUR T7 pic.twitter.com/127cFvLJ3I
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) April 29, 2018

Genuario has now pitched three scoreless frames of relief & has not allowed a run in last 12.2 innings of work.

7-1 PUR T7 pic.twitter.com/jAFWdXQT6q
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) April 29, 2018

VIDEO: Head coach @JoeLitterioRU spoke with @BigTenNetwork between innings. pic.twitter.com/zbNnO58Ows
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) April 28, 2018

Matera rips his 12th double of the season to score Harris from first base! Scarlet Knights on the board.

5-1 PUR T3 pic.twitter.com/5Fz41ubMi3
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) April 28, 2018

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