PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers baseball (17-14) tied the game at two in the seventh, but No. 17 Indiana (21-9) rallied for six in the eighth to take an 8-3 win Friday at Bainton Field. The loss snapped the Scarlet Knights' winning streak at five. RU has played a ranked opponent in each of the last seven games.
"Harry was great today," head coach
Steve Owens said. "He left when it was 2-2 after seven, did his job on a Friday like he's done for most of his career. We were right there late, but the bullpen hit batters, walked some and gave up hits. The message to the team is we still have another opportunity tomorrow. We can't look backwards. We have played close, competitive games with everyone all year, including the top teams. Indiana got the job done, we didn't and have to be better."
Harry Rutkowski permitted two runs in the first inning, but locked in from there to post six consecutive zeroes in working seven innings for the fourth time this season. The left-hander struck out four to move into a tie for third place in program history at 206 punchouts with Howie Brey and Rob Smorol.
Offensively,
Richie Schiekofer collected a pair of two-out RBI hits. Both
Mike Nyisztor and
Kevin Welsh also had two-hit performances, while
Chris Brito added an RBI double.
Ty Bothwell pitched the final 2.1 innings to earn the win for the first-place Hoosiers, as starter Tommy Sommer permitted one earned run in 6.2 innings. IU collected 10 hits at the plate.
- T1 | The Hoosiers scored two runs on three hits to take an early lead.
- B5 | Josh Rodriguez hit a one-out, ground-rule double and scored with two down on an RBI single by Schiekofer to make it a 2-1 game.
- B7 | Welsh led off with a single and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Peter Serruto. Nyisztor drew a walk with two away and Schiekofer followed with a game-tying double.
- T8 | The first two Indiana batters were hit by a pitch in sparking a six-run rally with four hits and two walks.
- B8 | Danny DiGeorgio lined a single up the middle and crossed on Brito's double to center field.
The Scarlet Knights will take on the Hoosiers once again Saturday at 11 a.m. The game will stream on Big Ten Network+ and can be heard on WRSU 88.7-FM.
Bainton Field Pod
Friday: Indiana 8, Rutgers 3
Saturday (11 a.m.): Rutgers vs. Indiana
Saturday (3 p.m.): Indiana vs. Nebraska
Sunday (11 a.m.): Indiana vs. Nebraska
Sunday (3 p.m.): Rutgers vs. Nebraska
Monday (11 a.m.): Rutgers vs. Nebraska
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