OMAHA, Neb. – Rutgers baseball was eliminated from the 2023 Big Ten Tournament following a 6-4 loss to Michigan State on Thursday afternoon at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.
The Scarlet Knights (33-23, 14-10) held a 4-3 lead in the sixth, but the Spartans (33-21, 12-12) tied it and eventually scored two in the eighth to stay alive in the tournament.
After two quick outs to start the game, MSU got on the board in the top of the first on a throwing error that brought home a runner from second base.
Andy Axelson and
Trevor Cohen both singled to start a rally in the second, with
Jordan Sweeney singling into left to bring home Axelson and tie the game at 1-1.
The Spartans took back the lead in the fourth on a sac fly and extended their lead to 3-1 in the fifth on an RBI single.
For the second straight day, RU was able to mount a rally with the bases loaded to take a lead.
Evan Sleight (walk) and Axelson (HBP) drew free passes to tie the game before Cohen lifted a sac fly to right, scoring
Chris Brito and making it 4-3.
MSU kept plugging away, tying the game back up in the sixth with a two-out bunt single, error and RBI single. In the top of the eighth, the Spartans loaded the bases with two outs and drew back-to-back walks to take a 6-4 lead.
Down to their last at-bat, the Scarlet Knights were able to get the tying run on base thanks to a hit-by-pitch from
Ryan Lasko and walk from Sleight. Despite the traffic on the bases, a flyout to center and groundout would end the game.
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