After defeating Stony Brook in a midweek pitching battle, Rutgers would earn a second straight victory off the arm of their pitchers, as they defeated Bryant 6-3 in game one of the Scarlet Knights’ first home weekend series
Dallin Harrison started on the mound for Rutgers, pitching a scoreless first inning before Knights’ third baseman Charlie Meglio hit a double to left field in the bottom of the first that allowed right fielder Chase Krewson to run home from second for the first score of the game.
Next came a two-run homer from infielder Tristan Salinas, as Rutgers headed into the second inning with a 3-0 lead.
Harrison would continue his scoreless performance in the second while Ryan Jaros continued the Knights’ scoring in the second inning by stealing home on a wild pitch after hitting a triple, before Joey Erace added one more to put Rutgers up five at the end of two.
Bryant would get their first score of the game at the top of the third inning after Casey Wensley tripled to deep right field. The Bulldogs would run in one more before the final out of the top of the third.
Harrison would pitch another scoreless inning in the fourth, with second baseman Julius Rosado adding one more run for Rutgers in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Vincent Borghese would relieve Harrison after one out in the fifth. Borghese would show signs of struggle early on, surrendering a run off a single on his first batter before walking his second. The Knights would hold Bryant scoreless for the rest of the inning despite the Bulldogs having a runner in scoring position for the final two outs.
After the fifth, Borghese would get into a rhythm, pitching four straight scoreless innings to seal the victory for Rutgers, despite the team’s offense going cold.
In total, Harrison would pitch three full scoreless innings while Borghese pitched four more to close out the game. The two Rutgers pitchers would combine for 15 total strikeouts.
Erace and Jaros would lead the Knights’ bats with two hits each, while Salinas led in terms of RBI’s with two. The Knights would finish the game with 10 total hits, while Bryant had five.
Rutgers will be back in action tomorrow at 2 pm for game two against Bryant at Bainton Field.
