PISCATAWAY, N.J. (March 30, 2022) – The Rutgers baseball team (18-6) won its third straight game on Wednesday afternoon, defeating Saint Peter's (3-18) by a score of 17-1 at Bainton Field.
 
After the Peacocks pushed a run across in the top of the first inning, The Scarlet Knights exploded for 17 unanswered, including an 8-run second inning, to secure the victory in their second game in as many days.
 
Wyatt Parliament got the nod on the mound for RU and worked around a run in the first inning to get through a career-high 5.0 frames, allowing just the one run and striking out a career-best four batters. Parliament would earn the win to improve to 2-0 on the year.
 
Matt Rowe entered in relief for Parliament and was nothing short of dominant in his two innings of work. He struck out three Peacocks, two of which were looking, and only allowed one baserunner, who reached on an error.
 
Joe Mazza got the 8^th and 9^th innings and after walking the leadoff man, got the next six outs in order, including two looking strikeouts.
 
In the 2^nd through 9^th innings, the Rutgers pitchers did not allow a run, yielded just three hits and struck out eight.
 
"Wyatt is going to be really good. This is a process with young freshmen pitchers and they have to get out there," head coach Steve Owens said of the effort on the mound. "Today we pitched the whole game with freshmen. Wyatt gave us a little bit more length, got going a little bit and got through some of his pitches and that was good to see. Joe Mazza did a great job at the end. He really threw a lot of strikes other than walking the leadoff hitter. Matt Rowe got rolling a little bit too. Those are important things because those guys are going to pitch a lot for us going forward."
 
Offensively, the Scarlet Knights posted their third straight double-digit win and are averaging 16 runs/game in their last three contests. Ryan Lasko, Nick Cimillo, Tony Santa Maria and Chris Brito all hit home runs, with Cimillo increasing his Big Ten-best batting average to .443.
 
All nine starters collected a hit, Santa Maria and Danny DiGeorgio each scored 3 runs, while Brito had a team-high 4 RBIs.
 
Brito hit home runs in both midweek games, going 4-for-8 with 4 runs scored and 5 RBI against NJIT and SPU.  
 
"We need Chris Brito to be Chris Brito of last year going forward, especially with seven weeks of conference play left," Owens said of his recent surge.
 
Coming off back-to-back midweek games, Rutgers will recharge on Thursday before Minnesota comes to town for a three-game set at Bainton Field this weekend, with the first game taking place Friday at 2:00 p.m.
 
"We played a lot this week," Owens said. "We've played for a week straight in cold weather. I'm sure guys are sore and tired. We'll be light tomorrow and then get it cranked up on Friday and it will be very, very competitive."
 

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The Scarlet Knights host Minnesota for a three-game series at Bainton Field. It is the first Big Ten home series for RU this season.
 
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