Photo by: Tom Gilbert
Baseball Drops Series Opener to Michigan State
Mar 31 | Baseball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers baseball dropped its Big Ten opener to Michigan State on Friday, dropping a tight 3-2 contest at Bainton Field.
After going down 2-0 in the fourth, the Scarlet Knights (13-12, 0-1) were unable to manufacture enough offense to spark a comeback against the visiting Spartans (15-8, 3-1).
Drew Conover got the start for RU and threw 4.0 innings, allowing a pair of runs on back-to-back walks with the bases loaded in the fourth.
Garrett French gave up 1 run in 2+ innings of relief, Ben Gorski threw 2.0 scoreless frames and Grant Besser tossed a scoreless ninth out of the bullpen.
The Scarlet Knights loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth, but scored just 1 run off of a double play. After MSU added an insurance run in the seventh, RU threatened again in the eighth.
Using back-to-back hits, Josh Kuroda-Grauer and Evan Sleight made it to second and third with one out. Although Kuroda-Grauer scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-2, the Spartans were able to get out of the inning with a double play.
MSU's Wyatt Rush set down the Scarlet Knights in order to finish off the save in the ninth.
Rutgers will continue its series against Michigan State at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Bainton Field.
After going down 2-0 in the fourth, the Scarlet Knights (13-12, 0-1) were unable to manufacture enough offense to spark a comeback against the visiting Spartans (15-8, 3-1).
Drew Conover got the start for RU and threw 4.0 innings, allowing a pair of runs on back-to-back walks with the bases loaded in the fourth.
Garrett French gave up 1 run in 2+ innings of relief, Ben Gorski threw 2.0 scoreless frames and Grant Besser tossed a scoreless ninth out of the bullpen.
The Scarlet Knights loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth, but scored just 1 run off of a double play. After MSU added an insurance run in the seventh, RU threatened again in the eighth.
Using back-to-back hits, Josh Kuroda-Grauer and Evan Sleight made it to second and third with one out. Although Kuroda-Grauer scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-2, the Spartans were able to get out of the inning with a double play.
MSU's Wyatt Rush set down the Scarlet Knights in order to finish off the save in the ninth.
Rutgers will continue its series against Michigan State at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Bainton Field.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Dzierwa,Joseph (3-1)
L: Conover, Drew (2-2)
S: Rush,Wyatt (6)
Batting:
2B: Vradenburg,Brock 1 ; Broecker,Bryan 1
RBI: Farquhar,Trent 1 ; Jebb,Mitch 1 ; Frank,Jack 1
SH: Kark,Dillon 1 ; Mayes,Casey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jebb,Mitch 1 ; Frank,Jack 1 ; Broecker,Bryan 1
CS: Mayes,Casey 1
HBP: Farquhar,Trent 1 ; Kark,Dillon 1

Batting:
2B: Lasko, Ryan 1 ; Sleight, Evan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brito, Chris 1 ; Kuroda-Grauer, Josh 1
HBP: Kuroda-Grauer, Josh 1
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