EASTON, Pa. – Rutgers baseball (10-19) rallied for six runs in the top of the seventh to surpass Lafayette (11-19), 9-3, Wednesday at Kamine Stadium. The Scarlet Knights improved to 23-0-1 against the Leopards since 1994.
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"Today was a game where we scored a couple in the second, but didn't add anymore that inning with runners on," head coach
Joe Litterio said. "Then you look up and we're down in the seventh inning. I was disappointed with that, but happy with the way we responded by putting a six-run spot on the board to break it open. We've been talking about finishing games off and was glad to see it happen."
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Down 3-2 heading into the seventh, RU sent 10 hitters to the plate to score six times and take the lead. Junior
Kevin Welsh came through with a tying double and redshirt freshman
Tim Dezzi put the Scarlet Knights on top on an RBI single. Welsh extended his on-base streak to 24 games by that double and also walked twice, while Dezzi (double, single), freshman
Chris Brito (two doubles, two walks) and junior
Kevin Blum (two singles) all had multiples hits. Senior
Luke Bowerbank joined Blum with two RBIs in the game.
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Seven different players knocked in a run and six scored. Senior
Tyler McNamara start the scoring with his first collegiate homer, an opposite-field blast in the second inning.
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On the mound, freshman
Jared Bellissimo worked 4.2 innings with three runs allowed in the start. Junior
Steven Acosta followed by picking up three strikeouts in 1.1 innings, earning his third win of the season. Freshman
Garrett French, freshman
Parker Scott and senior
Serafino Brito all pitched a scoreless frame to hold the lead. The bullpen did not allow a run over 4.1 innings.
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"Playing well in midweek games is important before a conference series," Litterio said. "We've got Michigan State coming in hot, winners of four of their last six games. They had a good weekend against Indiana State and beat Notre Dame last night. To win today is good for us, but we know we will have to play our best baseball to win this weekend."
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SCORING
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UP NEXT
The Scarlet Knights begin a seven-game homestand at Bainton Field Friday versus Michigan State. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
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