COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Rutgers baseball (2-3) took an early lead, but Maryland (2-3) scored in seven different innings to take a 13-8 win the series opener Friday at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium.
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"We did a really good job offensively against an elite starting pitcher," head coach
Steve Owens said. "Harry got off to a great start. We did give them a run in the first after a defensive mistake to score without a hit. Then you can't give up homers to the bottom of the lineup with your Friday guy, that's unacceptable. We were leading in the middle of the game, it just flipped on us. We kept scoring runs, but need to do a better job out of the bullpen.
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"I did see a lot of good stuff today.
Josh Rodriguez was awesome,
Danny DiGeorgio did a great job offensively. But we came up short. The goal is to win on Friday to setup yourself up for the rest of the weekend. Tomorrow is going to be a long day and we need to pitch like we did at the beginning of last weekend. We need to compete at a high level and see what it brings us."
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After homering twice Sunday, DiGeorgio reached all five plate appearances with three singles, a walk and a hit by pitch. The shortstop also stole three bases. Rodriguez went 3-for-4 as the leadoff hitter with a pair of doubles, a walk and stolen base. In addition,
Chris Brito connected for his third homer of the season, while
Peter Serruto posted two runs. The Scarlet Knights scored four earned runs and made
Perfect Game Preseason Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Sean Burke throw 115 pitches in 5.2 innings.
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Harry Rutkowski took the loss with six earned runs against in five-plus innings. The left-hander struck out six to move within one punchout of tying Bert Garrett (166) for 10
th in program history.
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- Rutgers jumped on the board with three in the top of the first. Rodriguez started with a double down the left field line and advanced to third on a fielder's choice from Richie Schiekofer to put runners at the corners with no outs. Burke struck out the next two, but Evan Sleight was hit by a pitch to load the bases. On the next pitch, Rodriguez slid in safely on a short passed ball for the first run. DiGeorgio followed with a two-run single to center to make it 3-0.
- The Terrapins scored an unearned run in the bottom of the first, with Benjamin Cowles hitting a solo homer to make it 3-2 in the second.
- Brito jumped on the first pitch in his at bat in the third and crushed a solo homer to left-center.
- In the fourth, Chris Alleyne hit a two-out, three-run homer to put Maryland on top, 5-4. Bobby Zmarzlak connected for a solo shot to right field in the fifth.
- The Scarlet Knights cut it to a 6-5 game in the sixth. Serruto singled with two outs, moved to second when Mike Nyisztor walked and crossed after two wild pitches.
- The Terrapins used a two-run homer by Cowles, his second long ball of the game, and a two-out RBI single to extend to a 9-5 advantage after six. The home team scored three more in the seventh.
- In the top of the eighth, DiGeorgio was hit by a pitch, stole second, advanced to third on an error and scored on a wild pitch. Serruto then worked a walk and moved to third on a double by Nyisztor. Rodriguez chased both home on double to the left-field corner to cut it to 12-8.
- Maryland tacked on one in the eighth on an RBI fielder's choice.
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Rutgers and Maryland are set for a Saturday doubleheader starting at noon. The first game is scheduled for seven innings. Watch of Big Ten Network+ or listen on ScarletKnights.com.
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