Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Rutgers baseball rallied for two runs in the eighth to make it a one-run game, but could not complete the comeback in a 6-4 loss to Monmouth Wednesday at Bainton Field. It was the seventh contest of a 10-game homestand for the Scarlet Knights.

Sophomore Mike Carter (Bloomfield, N.J.) broke through for his first three-hit game of the season with two singles and a double on the day, adding a run. Classmate Chris Folinusz (Cranford, N.J.) also had a multiple-hit game with two hits in as many at bats off the bench, driving in a pair. RU collected nine hits overall.

On the mound, freshman John O'Reilly (Northvale, N.J.) (3-1) worked 5.1 innings, but took his first loss of the season. He struck out four in the outing. Classmate Ryan Wares (Howell, N.J.) followed in relief and stranded both inherited runners, with sophomore Max Herrmann (Rutherford, N.J.) and junior David Yakopec (Pittsburgh, Pa.) each tossing a frame in the late innings.

Rutgers (8-18) took advantage of a Monmouth (6-12) error to plate the first run of the day in the third inning. Carter doubled with two outs and immediately scored when junior Chris Suseck (Flemington, N.J.) reached on a muffed throw at first base.

However, the Hawks used two hits and a leadoff walk to plate two in the top of the fourth to jump up 2-1. The game would be quickly tied in the bottom half when freshman Kyle Walker (Piscataway, N.J.) drove in senior Joe D'Annunzio (Scotch Plains, N.J.) for an unearned score.

It would stay that way until Monmouth rallied for four hits, including three consecutively, to bring home two in the sixth. Wares limited the damage by getting a strikeout and fly out to leave two on.

MU added insurance in the seventh in part to an RU error, but the Scarlet Knights fought back in the eighth. Senior Vinny Zarrillo (Forked River, N.J.) slashed a single to left to start and moved up on a walk drawn by D'Annunzio. Following a pitching change, junior R.J. Devish (Beachwood, N.J.) laid down a sacrifice bunt and Folinusz followed with a sharp hit up the middle to score both runners.

Down two in the ninth, Carter picked up his third hit of the day with one out, but was left on.

Ricky Dennis (1-0) earned the win with no earned runs allowed over five innings for the Hawks, while Frank Trimarco struck out two in the ninth for the save. Robbie Alessandrine and Kyle Perry each had three hits for Monmouth.

The Scarlet Knights will return to Big Ten play Friday against Minnesota at Bainton Field. The first of the three-game series will start at 3 p.m.

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