Hofstra Snaps Baseball’s Winning Streak

Wednesday, April 17

Piscataway, N.J.

3:00 PM

Rutgers University

13-20

Hofstra

8-24

Hofstra

Rutgers

Photo by: Mel Evans

Apr 17 | Baseball

Box Score Statistics

Scarlet Knights surrender five runs in the sixth

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers baseball (13-20) had its five-game winning streak snapped in a 6-4 setback to Hofstra (8-24) Wednesday at Bainton Field. The Scarlet Knights dropped to 7-3 at home this season and 5-2 in midweek contests.

"We walked two guys and gave an extra out in the sixth, and they took advantage of it," head coach Joe Litterio said. "That was the difference. We had runners on base and in scoring position, but just didn't get the big hit today. It's a tough loss and proves that we have to play well each time out to win, no matter who we are playing."

Senior Luke Bowerbank highlighted the offensive attack with a 4-for-4 performance, his second career four-hit game. The designated hitter joined sophomore Mike Nyisztor, redshirt freshman Tim Dezzi and senior Carmen Sclafani with one RBI in the game. RU totaled eight hits and left eight on base in the game.

On the mound, freshman Jared Bellissimo permitted one run over five innings and left with the lead. Junior Eric Reardon worked two scoreless innings of relief and sophomore Kyle Muller added one to keep the team within striking distance late.

The Pride did not have a hit in the first three innings, but scored in the fourth on two doubles and rallied for five runs in the sixth. Two RU rallies were cut short on double plays, as Seamus Brazill pitched three innings of relief and Daniel Page earned the save in the ninth. Steven Boscia worked five innings with two runs allowed in the start.

SCORING

The Scarlet Knights scored first for the sixth-straight game with a two-out rally in the first. Dezzi worked a five-pitch walk and moved up on a single up the middle by freshman Chris Brito. Sclafani and Bowerbank then connected on consecutive RBI singles to make it 2-0.
The Pride picked up back-to-back doubles with two down in the top of the fourth to score a run.
Hofstra then posted five runs on three hits, two walks and one error to take a 6-2 lead in the sixth. Jimmy Joyce hit a three-run double.
In the seventh, junior Kevin Blum reached on an error and scored from first on a triple by Nyisztor. Nyisztor crossed two batters later on a groundout to cut the deficit to 6-4.

UP NEXT
Rutgers stays home to host Purdue in a Big Ten weekend series that starts Friday at 2 p.m. at Bainton Field.

"This Purdue weekend is a big series. We're playing a team that's right with us in the standings and we want to take care of business at home. We have to come out confident like we did last weekend and play our best."

Welsh makes a nice play deep in the hole to help Muller work a scoreless top of the ninth. Last chance for the Scarlet Knights.

B9 | Hofstra 6, Rutgers 4 pic.twitter.com/tjx9MUB5lL
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) April 17, 2019

Triple! Nyisztor knocks in a run & scores two batters later to make it a two-run game.

T8 | Hofstra 6, Rutgers 4 pic.twitter.com/CYRtqPGaTJ
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) April 17, 2019

Welsh makes a leaping catch to help Reardon work a 1-2-3 seventh.

B7 | Hofstra 6, Rutgers 2 pic.twitter.com/jJYqt0zUPj
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) April 17, 2019

Double play! Bellissimo induces a 4-6-3 to escape a jam in the second.

B2 | Rutgers 2, Hofstra 0 pic.twitter.com/XRKl7IAbbf
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) April 17, 2019

And Bowerbank follows with another two-out RBI single!

B1 | Rutgers 2, Hofstra 0 pic.twitter.com/3olfKfov1h
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) April 17, 2019

Sclafani is back in the lineup & delivers a two-out RBI single! Dezzi (walk) scores from second.

B1 | Rutgers 1, Hofstra 0 pic.twitter.com/pShN5V11ov
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) April 17, 2019

Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding baseball, follow the program on Twitter (@RutgersBaseball), Instagram (@rutgersbaseball) and Facebook (/BaseballRU). For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.