PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers baseball beat Delaware by a score of 8-2 on Tuesday afternoon at Bainton Field. The Scarlet Knights (5-7) used strong pitching and the offense added on runs late in the game to beat the Blue Hens (5-7).

Jack Kirchner made the midweek start for the second straight game and delivered three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out three. 

After a scoreless first for both teams, RU plated three runs in the second to take control of the game early. Nick Tomasetto led off the frame with a single and scored on a double from JT Thompson. RJ Johnson Jr. singled in Thompson and Peyton Bonds had an RBI groundout to make it 3-0. 

After Kircher's day ended, Cameron Johnson entered for the fourth and delivered two scoreless frames with just one hit, no walks and four strikeouts. 

Connor Grotyohann tossed a scoreless sixth before Delaware plated a pair in the seventh to make it 3-2. 

With Rutgers needed to extend its lead, the offense delivered in the bottom of the seventh. With two runners on, Bonds hit a dribbler to the pitcher, which was thrown into right field and allowed two to score. In the bottom of the eighth, an RBI double from Pablo Santos scored one and a two-run single from Matt Chatelle pushed the score to 8-2. 

After the Blue Hens had scored in the seventh, Mike Timberlake came in to end the frame. He then tossed scoreless eighth and ninth innings to earn his first save of the season. He finished with 2.1 scoreless innings, yielding two hits and one walk while striking out one. 

Up next for Rutgers is Big Ten play, which starts this weekend against Iowa on Friday at Bainton Field.
 
Notes

• Peyton Bonds extended his on-base streak to all 12 games this season with a first-inning walk.
• Cameron Johnson earned his second win of the season to improve to 2-0.
• Mike Timberlake earned his first save of the season.
• Eight-of-nine Rutgers starters collected at least one hit.
• Trevor Cohen registered his fifth multi-hit game of the season.
• JT Thompson registered his fourth multi-hit game of the season.

• Jack Kirchner: Strikeouts (3), Innings Pitched (3.0), Batters Faced (10)
• Cameron Johnson: Strikeouts (4), Innings Pitched (2.0)

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