PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers baseball lost the second game of its series against Purdue, dropping an 8-6 decision at Bainton Field on Saturday.  

The Scarlet Knights (19-11, 1-4) took a 6-5 lead into the ninth inning, but the Boilermakers (19-12, 4-4) hit a go-ahead three-run home run in the final frame to earn the win and clinch the series.

Rutgers got out to a quick start in the first, scoring three runs on an RBI single from Josh Kuroda-Grauer, a run-scoring double play and a solo home run from Jackson Natili. 

Purdue rallied to tie it in the third, stringing together three hits with two outs to tie the game at 3-3. 

Tony Santa Maria hit his ninth home run of the season in the fourth, a two-run shot that gave RU a 5-3 lead. The Boilermakers answered right back with an RBI double and RBI groundout in the fifth to make it 5-5. 

In the bottom of the eighth, a walk from Trevor Cohen and single from Kuroda-Grauer put runners on the corners. Ty Doucette delivered a sac fly to deep center that scored Cohen and gave Rutgers a 6-5 lead. 

Purdue strung together two singles with one out in the top of the ninth before a three-run home run put the visitors up 8-6. The Scarlet Knights went down 1-2-3 in the bottom half to end the game. 
 
The series finale between Rutgers and Purdue is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

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