PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Chris Brito represents Rutgers baseball as one of nine National Players of the Week selected by Collegiate Baseball. The third baseman recorded a 1.278 slugging percentage in four games over the weekend at Maryland, crushing four homers with two doubles in a 9-for-18 series.
 
"Brito is a really good baseball player and does everything well," head coach Steve Owens said. "As he becomes a more complete hitter, he's always had power, he is now hitting fastballs, breaking balls, changeups. He has an approach and a plan each at bat. Chris can hit the ball to any field."
 
Brito knocked in nine runs against the Terrapins, including seven in the Saturday doubleheader sweep. He leads the Big Ten with 15 RBIs and 33 total bases in 2021, while ranking tied for first with six homers. The Scarlet Knights are tied for the league lead with 7.2 runs per game so far.
 
After blasting a solo homer on Friday, Brito went 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles and four RBIs in the first game on Saturday, as RU won, 9-3. The cleanup hitter then went 3-for-4 in the nightcap, an 8-7 victory, with two long balls, his first career multiple-homer game. The Perth Amboy, New Jersey, native finished the day 7-for-9 with seven RBIs.
 
Brito finished the series by lifting his sixth homer of the season over the batter's eye on Sunday.

"I've just been sticking to the approach we talked about and not backing away from it," Brito said. "My main job is to use the whole field."



The Scarlet Knights split the series against the Terrapins and are 4-4 heading into this weekend's series at Bainton Field against Ohio State (5-3).
 
"I'm really pleased with where we are at right now," Owens said. "We are 4-4 having played some good teams. We have played well, established ourselves as a different type of team. If people are paying attention, they have seen a lot of improvements on the field. We are excited to get back home."

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