The Scarlet Knights continued Big Ten play over the weekend with a three-game set in Champaign against Illinois.
Rutgers salvaged the series with a win on Sunday afternoon, but lost two out of three against the Illini. Rutgers is now 13-10 overall and 3-3 in conference play. The team will be back in action on Tuesday afternoon against Delaware at home before a three-game series with Michigan at Bainton Field this weekend.
Game One
Illinois did not waste much time to begin the series.
A Peyton Bonds home run
in the top of the first put Rutgers on top and this would be the only positive of the afternoon.
Illinois answered with nine runs in the bottom of the first inning to spark a 13-7 win to open the series.
Rutgers attempted to make a comeback early. Quinten Perilli added a two-run single in the second before Charlie Meglio crushed a two-run home run in the third. Tristan Salinas added a home run in the fifth to get within 9-6, but Illinois answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to put the game away.
Meglio drove in three runs while Trey Wells finished 4-for-5 with a run scored.
Game Two
The Illini offense stayed hot in game two as they got to Zack Konstantinovsky early.
Illinois scored five runs in the third inning during a 12-6 win on Saturday afternoon.
Rutgers got on the board on a Matt Chatelle single in the fourth inning. Ryan Jaros scored one with a double before Bonds singled to score a run in the seventh inning. Bonds went 2-for-4.
In the top of the seventh, Meglio hit his second two-run home run of the series. Chase Krewson and Joey Erace added two hits.
Game Three
Rutgers was able to save the series on Sunday afternoon with a late rally to secure an 8-3 win on its way out of town.
Illinois jumped out to a 3-0 lead early, but Chris Sand was able to calm things down out of the bullpen. He went the final 4 2/3 innings, allowing one hit and no runs to earn the victory.
Yomar Carreras got the scoring started on a sac fly in the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh, Rutgers scored on a bases loaded walk by Julius Rosado. Bonds put Rutgers on top with a three-run double.
Carreras and Chatelle added RBI singles in the final innings. Bonds went 2-for-4 once again with three RBI while Wells and Chatelle added two mote hits each.
