Baseball Drops Final Midweek to Villanova

Tuesday, May 7

Piscataway, N.J.

1:00 PM

Rutgers University

19-26

Villanova

13-32

Villanova

Rutgers

Photo by: Mark Brown

May 07 | Baseball

Box Score Statistics

Valderrama robs homer and throws out runner at the plate

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Freshman centerfielder Victor Valderrama robbed a homer and also threw out a runner at plate, but it was not enough as Rutgers baseball (19-26) came up short against Villanova (13-32) in a 4-3 Tuesday loss at Bainton Field. The Scarlet Knights dropped to 11-5 at home and 7-3 in midweek games this season.

"Today was a game where we thought we would just show up and win," head coach Joe Litterio said. "I was disappointed. We have to come out ready to play no matter the opponent. There were opportunities with runners on base, but we couldn't get the big hit. We will need to play better this weekend."

Freshman Jared Bellissimo made his eighth start of the season and gave up only one run in the first six innings before Villanova plated three in the seventh. The left-hander struck out three in the outing. Freshman Garrett French recorded the final out in the seventh and the first in the eighth before senior Serafino Brito worked the final 1.2 innings. Brito is now tied with Chris Lillis (2003-07) for third in program history with 82 career appearances.

Defensively, Valderrama preserved a 2-1 lead in the fifth by leaping over the wall in left-center to steal away a homer. Then in the seventh with the same score, he fired a strike home to gun down a runner for the second out of the inning.

Freshman Peter Serruto highlighted the offensive production with a two-run double off the wall in left field. Senior Carmen Sclafani added his team-leading 30^th RBI of the season on a two-out single in the seventh, while Valderrama extended his on-base streak to 22 games. The Scarlet Knights finished with six hits and five walks, but went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

Jonathan Rosero earned the win for the Wildcats with four scoreless innings of relief, with Cameron Mathes pitching the final three frames for his second save of the season. Villanova snapped its four-game losing streak at Bainton Field.

ROBBERY! Valderrama leaps over the wall in left-center to steal away a Villanova homer & keep the lead.

Add that one to the highlight reel!

B5 | Rutgers 2, Villanova 1 pic.twitter.com/yHAAdfquhM
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) May 7, 2019

Valderrama saves the lead again! This time the freshman fires a strike home to cut down the runner trying to score.

T7 | Rutgers 2, Villanova 1 pic.twitter.com/k3vqhodMEe
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) May 7, 2019

SCORING

Dylan McNary hit a solo homer to give Villanova the lead in the second inning.
The Scarlet Knights responded with two runs in the bottom of the second on a double by Serruto. Senior Tyler McNamara (single) and Valderrama (walk) both scored on the play.
The Wildcats used a pair of singles with two outs in the seventh to plate three and take the lead.
Sclafani ripped an RBI single with two down in the last of the seventh to make it 4-3, but Mathes retired the next seven hitters to end the game.

UP NEXT
Rutgers plays its final home series of the season this weekend versus Northwestern, starting Friday at 2 p.m. The Scarlet Knights are in seventh place, while the Wildcats are tied with Maryland for eighth.

Base hit! Sclafani gets one back with a two-out single to score Blum (single). Senior now with 30 RBIs this season.

B7 | Villanova 4, Rutgers 3 pic.twitter.com/T9DLvEBE4Z
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) May 7, 2019

Beautiful day at Bainton ⚾#RelentlessPursuit | #GoRU pic.twitter.com/8FsHpqMdQ8
— Rutgers Wrestling (@RUWrestling) May 7, 2019

Bellissimo picks up his third strikeout of the day to cap a perfect fourth!

B4 | Rutgers 2, Villanova 1 pic.twitter.com/9pijWSxFMx
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) May 7, 2019

Off the wall! Serruto rips a two-run double to left to put the Scarlet Knights on top.

B2 | Rutgers 2, Villanova 1 pic.twitter.com/nYMPvABu21
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) May 7, 2019

Awesome throwing out the first pitches before today's @RutgersBaseball game with Villanova!#RelentlessPursuit | #GoRU pic.twitter.com/RbMDObOHsq
— Rutgers Wrestling (@RUWrestling) May 7, 2019

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.