March 6, 2016 Box Score
NORFOLK, Va. - Behind six strong innings from sophomore John O'Reilly (Northvale, N.J.), scoreless relief and late clutch hitting, Rutgers baseball rallied to win the series finale at Old Dominion, 5-2, Sunday at the Bud Metheny Complex. The Scarlet Knights scored three runs in the final two frames to earn the victory.
Making his third start of the year, O'Reilly allowed five singles and two runs, recording 11 outs on the ground. The right-hander threw 77 pitches in the outing. Freshman Serafino Brito (Oakland, N.J.) (2-1) earned his second win of the week with two scoreless innings out of the bullpen, while senior Reed Shuttle (Lansdale, Pa.) collected the final three outs for his second save of the year.
At the plate, Rutgers (4-6) registered nine hits and drew seven walks. Senior R.J. Devish (Beachwood, N.J.), freshman Mike Martinez (West New York, N.J.) and junior Gaby Rosa (Perth Amboy, N.J.) all recorded two hits, with junior Tom Marcinczyk (Middlesex, N.J.) reaching three times via a single and two walks. The Scarlet Knights had six of their hits with two down.
Old Dominion (9-2) struck first with a run in the third, but RU responded to take the lead in the fifth. Fifth-year senior John Jennings (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) wore a pitch to start and moved up on a single by Martinez. Next up, Rosa laid down a bunt that ended up as hit, loading the bases. Freshman Jawuan Harris (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) and Devish then each had RBI fielder's choice at bats to give the Scarlet Knights the lead, 2-1.
In the sixth, the Monarchs evened the score with a sacrifice fly, but O'Reilly limited the damage to escape further trouble.
That would lead to the go-ahead rally in the eighth. Fifth-year senior Chris Suseck (Flemington, N.J.) worked a one-out walk and advanced to third on a balk and wild pitch. ODU then decided to intentionally walk Marcinczyk and make a pitching change. A pop fly went down as the second out, but freshman Nick Matera (Roxbury, N.J.) came through with a clutch RBI single through the left side to put RU up, 3-2.
Brito kept it there with a scoreless eighth to allow Rutgers to add some insurance runs in the ninth. Freshman Carmen Sclafani (Toms River, N.J.) ended up coming around on an error, while Marcinczyk notched an infield single to drive in the fifth run. That would be enough for Shuttle, who closed out the win.
Victor Diaz (1-1) suffered the loss for the hosts, as starter Adam Bainbridge went five innings with two runs allowed. Offensively, the Monarchs had eight hits, but only drew one walk from Rutgers pitching.
The Scarlet Knights will next return home for a 3 p.m. Wednesday game against Iona. The contest will be broadcast live from Bainton Field on WRSU 88.7-FM.
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