Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers baseball loaded the bases in the ninth inning, but did not score to fall to Penn State, 7-5, in the series finale Sunday at Bainton Field. Despite the setback, the Scarlet Knights still claimed the series victory by winning the prior two meetings.

RU had its four-game winning streak snapped to fall to 20-20 and 5-7 in the Big Ten, while PSU improved to 24-17 and 9-6. It was only the Scarlet Knights' second home defeat of the season.

Rutgers notched up nine hits on the day, with juniors Mike Carter (Bloomfield, N.J.) and Tom Marcinczyk (Middlesex, N.J.) each going 2-for-5. Fifth-year senior Chris Suseck (Flemington, N.J.) put up five productive plate appearances in as many trips, drawing two walks to go with a single, hit by pitch and a sacrifice bunt. Both fifth-year senior John Jennings (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) and freshman Jawuan Harris (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) collected two RBIs.

On the mound, the bullpen combined for six innings and permitted just two runs. Freshman Serafino Brito (Oakland, N.J.) tossed three frames, as senior Reed Shuttle (Lansdale, Pa.) followed by picking up three strikeouts in 1.2 frames. Next in, junior Ryan Fleming (Churchville, Pa.) stranded two inherited runners and logged four outs to make it 10 consecutive outings without allowing an earned run, now registering a 0.96 ERA. Junior Christian Campbell (Sayreville, N.J.) (1-3) made his first Big Ten start and took the loss in a three-inning stint.

Jumping ahead early, the Scarlet Knights put up four quick runs in the first inning. Senior R.J. Devish (Beachwood, N.J.) and Carter both singled to start, moving up on a bunt by Suseck. Marcinczyk then came up and hit a grounder to the pitcher that was thrown to first, as Devish read the play and slid in safely at the plate. Next up, Harris singled up the middle on a ball that was flagged down by the second baseman, but Carter never stopped running around third and scored on the play. After Harris advanced on a balk, stole third and freshman Mike Martinez (West New York, N.J.) walked and also stole, Jennings delivered a two-run single that fell in between the shortstop and charging left fielder.

The Nittany Lions responded with a solo home run by James Coates in the second and added four more runs in the third to take a 5-4 advantage. The visitors tacked on two more in the fourth to post seven total runs.

The Scarlet Knights chipped back with one run in the fifth to make it a two-run ballgame. Carter hit a one-out single and Suseck walked to put two on. Marcinczyk would reach via error to load the bases for Harris, who lifted a sacrifice fly.

However, Rutgers stranded two on in the seventh when Penn State closer Jack Anderson entered. Then in the ninth, sophomore Kyle Walker (Piscataway, N.J.), Devish and Suseck all drew walks to load the bases with one out. Anderson escaped the jam with two strikeouts to earn his 10th save of the season. Starter Justin Hagenman (6-1) earned the win for PSU with four earned runs, all in the first inning, allowed over six innings.

Completing a 4-1 week, RU will next travel to Columbia to play Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. before returning to Bainton Field Wednesday versus Villanova at the same time.

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