PISCATAWAY, N.J. – A late rally from Rutgers baseball came up just short on Saturday night, with the team falling to Illinois by a score of 9-7 at Bainton Field.
The Scarlet Knights (31-19, 12-8) went down 9-2 and brought the winning run to the plate in the ninth but were unable to complete the comeback against the Fighting Illini (23-23, 12-11).
Rutgers used another early shot of offense to get out to a 1-0 lead in the first. Back-to-back singles from
Josh Kuroda-Grauer and
Ryan Lasko put runners on the corners for
Chris Brito. For the second straight weekend, Brito would etch his name in Rutgers history. With a sacrifice fly to center field, Brito set the Rutgers record with his 192nd career RBI, breaking the mark previously shared by Jake Daubert and Pete Zoccolillo.
Illinois had a strong response, plating five runs in the second to take control of the game. With the bases loaded and no outs, the Illini used a hit-by-pitch, hit-by-pitch, walk, sac fly and single to take a 5-1 lead.
Andy Axelson got a run back in the second with a solo home run, his fifth of the season and second of the weekend. Illinois continued to pour it on the third, however, using a pair of singles, an error and a double steal of home to plate four and make it 9-2.
The Scarlet Knights began to claw back with a trio of runs in the fifth, Lasko drove in a pair with a triple into left-center before coming home on an RBI double from Brito, bringing the score to 9-5.
Brito then led off the eighth with a no-doubt solo home run to left, making it 9-6. After Illinois brought in a reliever,
Evan Sleight and
Jordan Sweeney each walked to bring the tying run to the plate. They advanced to second and third on a deep flyout from
Hugh Pinkney. With two outs,
Cameron Love singled into center. Sleight scored on the play, but the Illini were able to throw out Sweeney at home, ending the frame with a 9-7 score.
RU kept up the pressure in ninth, with Axelson drawing a leadoff walk to bring the tying run to the plate. A two-out single by Brito brought the winning run to the plate, but a strikeout would end the rally and finish off the victory for the Illini.
The series finale and rubber match between Rutgers and Illinois is set for Sunday at noon and will take place at ShoreTown Ballpark in Lakewood.
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