Baseball Drops Rubber Game to Michigan State

Sunday, May 23

Piscataway, N.J.

Noon

Rutgers University

19-22, 19-22

Michigan State

17-24, 17-24

Michigan State

Rutgers

Photo by: Mike Lawrence

May 23 | Baseball

Box Score Statistics

DiGeorgio crushes sixth homer of the season

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers baseball (19-22) cut a five-run deficit to two, but Michigan State (17-24) posted seven runs in the eighth to pull away and win the rubber game, 14-8, Sunday at Bainton Field. The Scarlet Knights fell to 3-1 this season in weekend deciders.

"We had to use eight pitchers because we got a short start and were behind early again," head coach Steve Owens said. "Six relievers in a row gave up a run or multiple runs, no one did their job until Jared threw one scoreless inning in the ninth. Offensively and defensively, we were good enough to win today. We got back in the game two different times and no one could put a zero up. That's the story of today's game, we didn't pitch well enough to win."

After the Spartans took a 5-0 lead in the third, the Scarlet Knights posted a three-spot in the fourth. However, MSU countered with runs in the fifth and sixth to take a 7-3 advantage. Danny DiGeorgio hit a two-run homer to cut it to 7-5 after six innings, but Michigan State rallied for seven in the eighth.

DiGeorgio went 3-for-4 with his sixth homer of the season to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. Richie Schiekofer also had three hits, while Ryan Lasko had two with a walk. Josh Rodriguez contributed three RBIs.

Brian Fitzpatrick worked a season-high three innings out of the bullpen with one only run allowed. Jared Bellissimo dealt a perfect ninth.

For Michigan State, Sam Benschoter earned the win with seven strikeouts and seven runs allowed in eight innings. The Spartans notched 17 hits and received two homers from Bailey Peterson, who had seven RBIs.

DiGeorgio goes yard!

Sixth homer of the year makes it a two-run game.

B6 | Michigan State 7, Rutgers 5 pic.twitter.com/8n7Y7SRtsm
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) May 23, 2021

SCORING

T1 | The Spartans used back-to-back doubles and a two-out RBI single to take a 2-0 lead.
T3 | Michigan State expanded to a 5-0 advantage with three runs on two hits. Fitzpatrick prevented further damage by stranding two in scoring position after coming in with no outs.
B4 | The Scarlet Knights cut into the deficit with three runs on four hits. Schiekofer led off with a first-pitch double and advanced to third on a Chris Brito single. Lasko then laced an RBI single. Following a strikeout, DiGeorgio singled through the left side to load the bases. Kevin Welsh worked a four-pitch walk to force in Brito. Next up, Rodriguez lifted a sacrifice fly.
T5 | Peterson hit a solo homer for the visitors.
T6 | A leadoff walk moved to third on a single, with a sacrifice fly adding a run for Michigan State to make it 7-3.
B6 | Lasko worked a walk and came in on DiGeorgio's homer to left-center.
T8 | Michigan State scored seven runs on seven hits to build a nine-run lead.
B9 | Schiekofer doubled, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly from Brito, his 42^nd RBI of the year.

UP NEXT

The Scarlet Knights remain home to host Illinois and wrap up the 44-game Big Ten schedule. The three-game set begins Friday at 2 p.m. Watch on Big Ten Network+ or listen on WRSU 88.7-FM.

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 Scarlet Knights App via the app store or play store.