May 7, 2017 Box Score
LINCOLN, Neb. - Highlighted by a three-run home run from senior Tom Marcinczyk, Rutgers baseball overcame a four-run deficit in the eighth inning, but Nebraska hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth for a 7-6 victory Sunday at Hawks Field. The contest wrapped up a three-game series.
Down 6-2 entering the top of the eighth, freshman Kevin Welsh started the four-run rally by reaching via error and moved up on a single by senior Christian Campbell. Sophomore Mike Martinez then came up and rocketed an RBI single through the infield to bring home Welsh. After that, Marcinczyk attacked the first pitch and lifted a three-run shot into the right-field bullpen to tie the score. It was his seventh homer of the season and 19th of his career.
However, the Cornhuskers (29-16-1) won the game on a two-out RBI single by Luis Alvarado in the bottom of the ninth.
Marcinczyk added a single earlier in the game, while junior Milo Freeman went 2-for-3 off the bench. The Scarlet Knights (17-28, 5-10) reached at least 10 hits for the 12th time in the last 17 games.
Junior John O'Reilly worked 4.1 innings in his 12th start of the season and senior Ryan Fleming followed with 1.2 innings from the bullpen. Fifth-year senior Max Herrmann (0-1) recorded eight outs, but took the loss.
Nebraska scored first with an unearned run in the opening frame and added three on four hits and one error to go up 4-0 after two innings.
The Scarlet Knights chipped into the deficit with a two-run rally in the third. Junior Chris Folinusz started with a single and moved up on a one-out single by Welsh. Next up, senior Mike Carter hit an RBI single through the right side, with Folinusz scoring from second. An error loaded the bases and Welsh later came home on a wild pitch.
O'Reilly induced double plays in both the third and the fourth to keep it a two-run game. A passed ball permitted a Nebraska run to cross in the fifth, but Fleming came on and stranded both inherited runners.
Chad Luensmann (3-3) picked up the win for the home team by escaping a two-on, one-out jam into the top of the ninth. Starter Jake Meyers went 7.1 innings with six strikeouts. Offensively, the Cornhuskers scored three unearned runs and collected 13 hits.
Rutgers will return to Bainton Field on Friday to start a three-game series against Illinois.
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