NEW ORLEANS – Redshirt freshman Tim Dezzi delivered a two-run walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth to help Rutgers baseball come back and beat Butler, 3-2, Friday in the opening game of the Allstate Sugar Bowl Baseball Classic hosted by the University of New Orleans. Sophomore Harry Rutkowski allowed just one earned run over 7.1 innings in his first weekend-opening start on the mound.
 
"Butler scored quickly and Harry did a great job not letting it go further than that," head coach Joe Litterio said. "We had opportunities all game, finally breaking through in the ninth inning. We have to do a better job getting runners in from third base with less than two outs, moving runners and executing offensively, but we are happy to get the win today."
 
Down 2-1 and facing Butler (2-2) closer Jack Pilcher (0-1), who allowed just five hits in 19.2 innings last season with 10 saves, sophomore Mike Nyisztor started the rally with a leadoff single through the left side before advancing to third on a pair of wild pitches. Junior Kevin Welsh and freshman Chris Brito both walked to load the bases with no outs. Dezzi then drove a 1-1 pitch to the left-center gap, with Nyisztor and Welsh both scoring without a play at home plate.
 
It was the first walk-off victory for RU (1-3) since toppling Illinois, 8-7, on a single by Christian Campbell on May 14, 2017 at Bainton Field.
 
Dezzi went 3-for-5 in the game and is 6-for-15 on the season with a walk for a .838 OPS. Welsh was also on three times via a single and two walks, while senior Carmen Sclafani walked three times in four trips.
 
"Dezzi has been making adjustments at the plate," Litterio said. "They started him with a curveball (in the ninth inning) over the plate, and he took it. Then he battled, saw the same pitch again and he didn't miss it."
 
On the mound, Rutkowski had his second-longest collegiate appearance with one out recorded in the eighth. The left-hander did not walk a batter, scattered five hits, struck out four and was charged with only one earned run. He retired a stretch of 14 consecutive batters from the second inning until the sixth. Redshirt junior Tommy Genuario stranded both inherited runners in the eighth and senior Serafino Brito (1-1) left the bases loaded in the ninth to give the bats a chance to rally down one.
 
The Bulldogs opened the game with a single, error and RBI single, adding an unearned run on a first-and-third play to take a 2-0 lead after one. That would be all, as Rutkowski, Genuario and Brito did not permit another run after the first inning, allowing five hits for the game.
 
Butler starter Ryan Pepiot threw 5.2 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts in a no-decision. Rutgers stranded 11 runners on base through eight innings.
 
The first run for the Scarlet Knights came in the seventh when freshman David Soto worked a leadoff walk and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
 
It was the first meeting on the diamond between the Scarlet Knights and Bulldogs.
 
UP NEXT
Rutgers continues the Allstate Sugar Bowl Baseball Classic versus host New Orleans Saturday at 2 p.m. ET. Sophomore Tevin Murray will make the start on the mound for the Scarlet Knights.




Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding baseball, follow the program on Twitter (@RutgersBaseball), Instagram (@rutgersbaseball) and Facebook (/BaseballRU). For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.