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Rutgers University Athletics

Scoreboard

Big Ten Conference
Richie Schiekofer
Thomas Shea
18
Winner Rutgers RU 2-0
3
Houston Baptist HBU 0-2
Winner
Rutgers RU
2-0
18
Final
3
Houston Baptist HBU
0-2
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Rutgers RU 0 0 3 0 1 10 1 2 1 18 21 0
Houston Baptist HBU 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 9 1

W: Gorski, Ben (1-0) L: Abbott, Ethan (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Baseball Rolls at Houston Baptist, 18-3

Scarlet Knights clinch series behind 21-hit attack

HOUSTON – Rutgers baseball (2-0) exploded for 10 runs in the sixth inning to run away from Houston Baptist (0-2) in an 18-3 victory Saturday at Husky Field. The Scarlet Knights, totaling 21 hits, are 2-0 for the second-straight season and won a series on the opening weekend for the first time since 2008.
 
"It was a good offensive day," head coach Steve Owens said. "We were behind at the beginning and their starter got out of some early jams. Then we got going in the third, and from that point on, did a really job good throughout the lineup of not chasing balls and getting big hits with guys on base."
 
RU put traffic on the bases all day with 21 hits, 12 walks and five hit by pitch to put 38 on. Richie Schiekofer led the way with a career-high five hits to go with a walk to reach base in 6-of-7 plate appearances, adding three RBIs.
 
"Richie has been staying in the strike zone," Owens said. "He is a pure hitter and has always been. When he doesn't get himself out, he's awesome. I feel good about where he is right now. Today was a great day for him and many others."
 
After stranding three runners in the first two innings, Rutgers struck for three in the third to take the lead. Then in the sixth, 15 marched to the plate to post a 10-spot on eight hits in breaking open the game. Overall, Chris Brito knocked in four runs on three hits, while Tony Santa Maria drove home three. Nick Cimillo was on all five trips with three hits and two walks, as Ryan Lasko drew three walks.
 
On the mound, Jared Kollar settled in in his first RU start with three scoreless frames in four-plus innings of work. The right-hander struck out six with three runs against. Ben Gorski stranded the tying run on base in the fifth on the way to pitching a career-high three innings, permitting no runs for his first Rutgers win. Wyatt Parliament dealt two scoreless frames with three strikeouts in his collegiate debut.
 
The Huskies used nine pitchers in the game. Starter Ethan Abbott took the loss with three runs charged in 2.1 innings.


 
SCORING
  • B1 | The Huskies scored for the first time in the series with two runs on two hits. Following a leadoff walk, two singles followed to push across a run. Dawson Woods added an RBI single with one out.
  • T3 | The Scarlet Knights took the lead with three runs on two hits and two walks in sending nine to the plate. Mike Nyisztor led off being plunked before Schiekofer singled to put two on. After an out, Brito ripped an RBI single to make it a 2-1 game. Evan Sleight and Cimillo then both walked to force in a run. Garrett Callaghan stepped in with two outs and worked to a full count before taking ball four to put RU on top, 3-2.
  • T5 | Cimillo led off with a double and scored with one out on a Joshua Kuroda-Grauer RBI single to make it 4-2.
  • B5 | HBU answered with one run on a walk, single, sacrifice bunt and RBI groundout, but Gorski left the tying run at third.
  • T6 | Rutgers exploded for 10 runs to put the game out of reach, 14-3. Lasko began the rally with one-out triple to start a string of seven-straight reaching base safely. Brito then connected for an RBI double, with Sleight and Cimillo walking to load the bases. Santa Maria cashed in on the opportunity with a two-run single before Jordan Sweeney came off the bench for a two-run double to expand the lead to 9-3. Kuroda-Grauer was hit by a pitch prior to the second out. Next up, Schiekofer registered an RBI single, Lasko walked and Brito notched a two-run double. Sleight capped the scoring in the inning by stroking a two-run double to left.
  • T7 | RU pushed one more home, as Sweeney walked, Kuroda-Grauer hit a single and Schiekofer drilled an RBI double.
  • T8 | Andy Axelson led off being hit by pitch, Santa Maria walked and Sweeney absorbed a pitch to load the bases. Nyisztor picked up an RBI fielder's choice and Schiekofer collected his fifth hit of a day, an RBI single to make it 17-3.
  • T9 | Jason Shockley made his collegiate debut drawing a walk, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a double to the left-field corner by Santa Maria.
 
NOTES
  • Rutgers last had a game with over 20 hits in 2017 at Lafayette (24) and last had a 10-run inning in 2018 at Illinois (10 runs, fourth inning).
  • It marked the sixth time under Owens the Scarlet Knights scored at least 15 runs in a game.
  • The last Scarlet Knight prior to Schiekofer with five hits in a game was Mike Carter at Lafayette in 2017.
  • This is the first series win on the opening weekend since taking 2-of-3 at Old Dominion in 2008.
  • The Scarlet Knights turned one double play and did not commit an error on defense. Lasko picked up his first outfield assist of the season throwing behind a runner at first following a single.
 
UP NEXT

The series finale is scheduled for Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET (moved up 30 minutes) on ESPN+.
 
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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