RICHMOND, Va. – Posting five crooked numbers on the scoreboard, Rutgers baseball (8-1) rolled Richmond (6-3), 21-3, Saturday at Pitt Field. The Scarlet Knights are 8-1 for the first time since 1962.
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"Richmond's pitcher was really good in the first couple innings," head coach
Steve Owens said. "The second time through the lineup we made some good adjustments, laid off pitches and worked deeper counts. We got some big innings going and were locked in throughout the lineup."
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Breaking a scoreless tie in the third inning, RU posted five runs and followed that up with four in the fifth, five in the sixth, three in the seventh and three in the eighth before a single tally in the ninth. The 21 runs mark the most for the team under Owens and first time topping 20 since recording 28 at Lafayette on April 11, 2017.
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All 13 Rutgers hitters stepping to the plate notched at least one hit in the 18-hit attack.
Nick Cimillo banged three doubles with a walk, while both
Danny DiGeorgio and
Joshua Kuroda-Grauer knocked in four runs. Kuroda-Grauer hit his first career homer, with
Jordan Sweeney and
Tony Santa Maria also going deep. The Scarlet Knights went 10-for-23 with runners in scoring position.
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Chris Brito and
Ryan Lasko both worked a pair of walks, as the team drew 10 overall to increase traffic on the bases. Santa Maria, Cimillo, Sweeney and
Richie Schiekofer all touched home three times in the balanced output.
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"There's good depth to the lineup," Owens said. "We had 10 extra-base hits – seven doubles and three homers – and a bunch of hard-hit balls, plus worked the count and drew walks. I thought the guys did a good job today."
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On the mound,
Jared Kollar won for the second time in as many weeks dealing six scoreless innings. The right-hander struck out seven with no walks and five hits allowed.
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"Jared was great," Owens said. "He had to sit for a while between innings, but stayed sharp. He had all his pitches working and didn't walk anyone. I thought he located in and out very well, did a great job of controlling counts and minimizing situations. They are a pretty good hitting club."
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Justin Sinibaldi followed with two innings of relief and
Matt Rowe recorded two outs in the ninth in his collegiate debut.
Jared Bellissimo closed out the win by picking up the final out.
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The Spiders entered the day having won six of their previous seven games. Jeremy Neff took the loss with four earned runs permitted in 2.2 innings.
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The Scarlet Knights wrap up the weekend in Virginia with a Sunday game at VCU. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
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