PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers baseball dropped its series finale to UConn by a score of 5-1 on Sunday afternoon. 

The Scarlet Knights (17-7) were unable to do much against a strong pitching performance from the Huskies (9-13), who avoided the series sweep with the victory. 

UConn struck first in the top of the first after a leadoff double and RBI single back up the middle. Rutgers starter Zack Konstantinovsky settled in after that and delivered his best outing as a Scarlet Knight. 

In what was a pitcher's duel through the first seven innings, Konstantinovsky did his part for RU, pitching 5.2 innings, giving up just one run on seven hits, striking out six with no walks. 

The Rutgers bats were kept quiet on the afternoon, scattering just five hits across nine innings. 

The Huskies added on three insurance runs in the eighth, leading off the frame with a solo home run and scoring two more on a fielder's choice and sac fly to make their lead 4-0.

Jackson Natili got RU on the board with a towering solo home run in the bottom of the eighth, his second is as many days to bring it to 4-1. UConn matched it with one in the ninth to make it 5-1 and the Huskies shut down Rutgers in the bottom half to secure the win. 

Rutgers returns to action with a midweek game against NJIT on Tuesday at Bainton Field followed by a trip to Michigan State for its first series in Big Ten play.

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