Baseball Topped by Indiana State Late

Friday, March 22

Fort Myers, Fla. / City of Palms Park

7:00 PM

Rutgers

5-13

Indiana State

17-2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Indiana State	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	3	8	0
Rutgers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	7	1

Photo by: Ron O'Rourke

Mar 22 | Baseball

Box Score Statistics

Rutkowski pitches seven innings with no earned runs allowed

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Redshirt freshman Tim Dezzi hit an RBI single to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth, but Indiana State (17-2) then escaped a bases-loaded jam and scored two in the ninth to beat Rutgers baseball (5-13) in the series opener Friday at City of Palms Park.

"We worked on it all week, but we left runners at third with less than two outs tonight," head coach Joe Litterio said. "Had a chance in the eighth to take the lead. Our freshmen are getting experience in high-pressure situations and have to learn from this. Happy to see us fight and grind to tie it up, but have to do a better job of taking advantage of scoring opportunities."

Sophomore Harry Rutkowski provided another quality Friday start, pitching seven innings without permitting an earned run. The left-hander has surrendered just five earned runs over 32 innings (1.41 ERA) in five outings since taking over as the series-opening pitcher, striking out 29 during that span.

"Harry goes out there against a 16-2 team and just deals," Litterio said. "He gave up just the one run, which came after an error and a shallow sac fly. He battles every time out there. I didn't think he had his good stuff in the first inning, but worked through it and went deep into the game. He gives up a chance to win every time."

Rutkowski matched up against Triston Polley, who tossed seven shutout innings for the Sycamores in the pitcher's duel.

Offensively, Dezzi reached 3-of-4 times on two hits and a walk. Sophomore Mike Nyisztor extended his hitting streak to four games with a pair of hits and scored on Dezzi's single in the eighth on a slide into home. Junior Kevin Welsh recorded a walk and has been on base in each of the last 13 games.

SCORING

After five scoreless innings, Indiana State plated an unearned run in the sixth. CJ Huntley led off with a bunt single and advanced to second on a throwing error. He scored on a sacrifice fly hit by Roberto Enriquez three batters later.
The Scarlet Knights evened the game in the bottom of the eighth. Nyisztor hit a one-out single and moved into scoring position when Welsh drew a walk. Next up, Dezzi came through with an RBI single to right field.
The Sycamores took the lead in the ninth after a leadoff walk, a sacrifice bunt and RBI doubles by Luke Fegen and Max Wright.

NOTES

Rutgers stranded nine on base and went 0-for-2 in two chances to score a runner from third with less than two outs.
Tyler Grauer (1-1) earned the win for Indiana State by striking out two with bases loaded, one out in the eighth to keep it 1-1 before pitching a scoreless ninth.

UP NEXT
Game two of the series is set for Saturday at 6 p.m. at City of Palms Park.

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