PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers baseball completed the weekend sweep over Penn State on Sunday afternoon, winning a decisive 8-2 contest at Bainton Field.
The Scarlet Knights (30-18, 11-7) scored five runs in the first inning and used a strong day from the bullpen to defeat the Nittany Lions (24-18, 6-11) by a margin of at least six runs for the third straight day.
The highlight of the day came in the fifth inning, when
Chris Brito set the program record with his
43rd career home run, eclipsing the mark of 42 held by Todd Frazier since 2007
For the second day in a row, the Rutgers offense pounced on Penn State early and did not allow the starter to get out of the first inning.
On Sunday, the Scarlet Knights chased the Nittany Lion starter before a single out was recorded.
Ryan Lasko doubled home Josh Kuroda-Gruaer to open the scoring. Lasko scored on a bases-loaded walk and
Evan Sleight scored on a passed ball to make it 3-0.
Cameron Love barely missed a grand slam and had to settle for a two-run single off the wall to make it 5-0.
A pair of RBI singles in the second and third innings brought Penn State back, closing the RU lead to 5-2.
Sleight got a run back in the third, coming home on a run down after a
Hugh Pinkney single. Brito's historic blast in the fifth made it 7-2 and
Andy Axelson drove in Love to make it 8-2 in the sixth.
While the offense once again provided more than enough runs, the Rutgers bullpen put forth a strong day hold Penn State once again to two or fewer runs.
Jake Marshall and
Garrett French combined to throw the first three innings, each allowing a run and combining for four strikeouts.
Sam Portnoy came in for the fourth and threw a pair of scoreless frames to earn the win and improve to 3-0 on the season. He finished with 2.0 innings, allowing no runs on two hits, while striking out one and walking none.
Ben Gorski finished the game strong, picking up a four-inning save for his sixth of the season. Gorski threw a career high 64 pitches across 4.0 innings, yielding no runs on three hits, while striking out four and walking a pair.
Rutgers returns to action with its final home series of the season this upcoming weekend. The Scarlet Knights will play host to Illinois, with Senior Day festivities taking place before Saturday's 6 p.m. game at Bainton Field. The series finale at noon on Sunday will be played at ShoreTown Ballpark in Lakewood.
Follow Rutgers Baseball on Social Media
