FORT MYERS, Fla. – Continuing its seven-game trip in Florida over spring break, Rutgers baseball takes on Harvard in Port Charlotte Wednesday at 4 p.m. at North Charlotte Regional Park (Field 10). In the first meeting between the teams since 2003, the Scarlet Knights will be the away team in the neutral-site contest.
 
Pending the strength of the Wi-Fi card connection, the game will have a free audio broadcast through ScarletKnights.com with Glen Gardner providing color analysis. Live stats will be available.
 
RU went 2-2 last week with a 2-1 win in 10 innings in its home opener versus Monmouth before going 1-2 in a series at Florida Gulf Coast. The Eagles won the opener, 4-1, in 11 innings before taking the Saturday game, 11-3. The Scarlet Knights bounced back to capture the finale, 4-1. Senior Carmen Sclafani and freshman Victor Valderrama connected for back-to-back home runs in the second inning to provide offensive support. Five pitchers combined hold down FGGU and its 8.4 runs per game average to one, stranding 16 runners on base.
 
Sophomore Mike Nyisztor collected seven hits in the four games last week on a .450 on-base mark, adding three stolen bases as the leadoff hitter. Freshman Peter Serruto has taken over the team lead with a .783 OPS (.419 slugging, .364 on-base) this season and owns five RBIs. Junior Kevin Welsh claims team-highs with 13 walks, seven runs scored and seven RBIs, having been on base in each of the last 11 games.
 
Freshman Jared Bellissimo is set to make his first collegiate start on the mound. The left-hander has previously pitched in three games out of the bullpen, most recently in the series finale at USC Upstate. Redshirt junior Tommy Genuario is tied for the Big Ten lead with 10 appearances this year, striking out 11 in 11.2 innings of work. Redshirt junior Steven Acosta leads the staff with a 1.10 WHIP in 10 innings of work, while senior Serafino Brito has a 1.32 ERA in eight appearances since moving back to the bullpen. He stranded four inherited runners last week and did not allow a run in three high-leverage outings. In addition, junior Tevin Murray paces the Big Ten and ranks No. 17 nationally with 13.76 strikeouts per nine innings.
 
THE OPPONENT
Harvard split two with Seton Hall and beat St. Joseph's last weekend in Port Charlotte after winning 3-of-4 at Radford previously. Led by four by Patrick McColl, the Crimson have lifted 12 home runs in 11 games to sit No. 28 nationally with 1.09 per game. Jake Suddleson has a team-high 13 RBIs. Projected starter Kevin Stone allowed six earned runs in four innings in his last start at Radford. Kieran Shaw holds four saves out of the bullpen. Bill Decker is in his eighth season as head coach, as the Crimson will open Ivy League play this weekend at Penn.
 
Rutgers assistant coach Tom Conley spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons on the Harvard staff.
 
THE SERIES
Rutgers has won all three prior games against Harvard. The first one on record was a 4-1 win in New Jersey on June 12, 1948. The Scarlet Knights and Crimson last met in March 2003, with RU claiming victories of 10-2 and 15-6 in Boca Raton, Florida. Jack Egbert (six innings) and Chris Lillis (three innings) combined to pitch effectively in the former, while Graig Badger (4-for-5) hit his first career homer and Jeff Frazier knocked in four to lead a 21-hit offensive attack in the latter.
 
UP NEXT
Rutgers will close out spring break with a series against Indiana State, currently with a 17-1 record, at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers. The Friday game starts at 7 p.m.
 
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