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Rutgers University Athletics

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Big Ten Conference
Rutgers Baseball
Eric Miller
8
Winner Rutgers RU 10-9
4
Northwestern NU 11-9
Winner
Rutgers RU
10-9
8
Final
4
Northwestern NU
11-9
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Rutgers RU 1 1 2 1 0 0 3 0 0 8 12 0
Northwestern NU 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 9 5

W: Wereski, Ben (4-1) L: Uberstine, Tyler (2-2) S: Muller, Kyle (2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Balanced Attack Evens Series at Northwestern

Scarlet Knights earn 10th Big Ten win, most in a season since joining the conference

EVANSTON, Ill. – Scoring early, adding on late and recording seven consecutive scoreless innings to end the game, Rutgers baseball (10-9) evened the series by topping Northwestern (11-9), 8-4, Saturday at Miller Park. The win marked the Scarlet Knights' 10th Big Ten victory, the most in a season since joining the conference.
 
"To lose like we lost yesterday and then to win today, however it happened, is a good testament to the team," head coach Steve Owens said. "It would have been easy to roll over. We are 4-4 in our last eight, it's not perfect, but we're grinding away.
 
"Our offense did a great job coming out with scoring opportunities in the first four innings and scoring in each. We gave it back with a pair of two-run homers, which was deflating. Instead of folding the tent, the guys kept playing and got a lead and were able to expand late. That is a tough thing to do in baseball, and I'm pleased with the response.
 
"Good day from Richie again and we did hit five doubles off a really good pitcher. It was a tough day, cold and rainy. A gritty win for our program to put us back over .500 and a chance to win the series tomorrow."
 
RU scored five runs over the first four innings to take a 5-4 lead before adding three in the seventh to pull away. Seven different players recorded at least one hit, with Richie Schiekofer posting three to improve to 7-for-10 so far in the series. Mike Nyisztor reached in each of his last four trips with a double, single and two walks, while Jordan Sweeney and Ryan Lasko contributed two hits apiece. Grant Shulman recorded four productive plate appearances with two sacrifice bunts, a sacrifice fly and a walk.
 
The Scarlet Knights had 12 hits altogether to reach double figures for the ninth time this season.
 
On the mound, Ben Wereski surrendered two-run homers in the first and second innings, but allowed nothing across from there to work 5.2 innings in a win with seven strikeouts. Ben Gorski closed out the sixth with a strikeout. Then in the seventh, Dale Stanavich faced a bases-loaded jam with no outs before a lineout and double play quelled the situation. Kyle Muller left two inherited on base in the eighth as part of a four-out save, his second of the year. The right-hander lowered his ERA to 0.77 with one earned run permitted in 11.2 innings, now holding a 0.51 WHIP.
 
Rutgers held Northwestern to 1-for-9  with runners in scoring position. It was the Scarlet Knights' first win in five game at Miller Park in Evanston.
 
"Ben had to pitch a little differently," Owens said. "Their lineup is tough and strong. He was able to get us into sixth with a lead. The bullpen wasn't perfect, but held it at bay and the defense played errorless. Lasko made a big catch in center and the middle infielders turned a big double play in a key spot in the seventh. Muller closed the door."
 
It was RU's 10th victory to establish a new program high for a Big Ten season. The previous best was nine done in both 2019 (23 games) and 2016 (24 games). SCORING
  • T1 | With two outs, both Chris Brito and Sweeney doubled for the first run of the game.
  • B1 | Shawn Goosenberg hit a two-run homer to give Northwestern the lead, 2-1.
  • T2 | Evan Sleight led off with a double, advanced on Shulman's sacrifice bunt and scored on an RBI double by Andy Axelson.
  • B2 | Leo Kaplan put the Wildcats back on top with a two-run homer, 4-2.
  • T3 | Schiekofer led off with a single to left and moved up on a wild pitch. With one out, Sweeney laced an RBI single up the middle. Lasko followed with a single and Sleight reached on an error to load the bases for Shulman, who lifted a sacrifice fly to knot the game four.
  • T4 | Nyisztor singled with one down and took second on a wild pitch. After the second out, Brito chopped one to third, but the throw was offline and Brito eluded the tag. With the attention at first base, Nyisztor snuck home to give RU a 5-4 lead.
  • T7 | The Scarlet Knights built an 8-4 lead with three insurance runs. Lasko reached on an infield single and Sleight walked. Next up, Shulman laid down a sacrifice bunt, with the throw going down the line to allow Lasko to score and put two in scoring position with no outs. Axelson and Nyisztor each walked to force in another, as Schiekofer tacked on an RBI single.
 
UP NEXT
The series finale is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. Watch on Big Ten Network+ or listen on ScarletKnights.com.
 
"On to tomorrow with a chance to win a road series," Owens said. "We won our 10th Big Ten game, which our program hasn't done yet, so we're making steps forward."
 
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 Scarlet Knights App via the app store or play store.
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