Rutgers baseball pounds Miami to salvage finale of opening series

Rutgers baseball (1-2) began their season in Miami, FL for the eight time in the last nine years against the 17th ranked Miami Hurricanes at Alex Rodriguez Park. Erupting for 17 runs on 16 hits, Rutgers avenged losses in the first two games on getaway day with a win. Rutgers had not defeated Miami (FL) since 2011 and this win snapped a 16 game skid. It was the most runs scored and the largest RU margin of victory against their former Big East rival.

The Scarlet Knights scored first for the second-straight day with back-to-back doubles to start the game, but this time poured it on afterward. The turning point came in the top of the 4th when Miami committed an almost unfathomable 5 errors in the frame leading to 5 Scarlet Knights runs. For the next few innings Miami would score to close the gap but each time RU was able to come back and extend the lead in the top of the frame.

Freshman Eric Reardon made his collegiate debut, earning the win in relief of James Torres. Torres started out strong before running out of gas in the 4th inning on an 85 degree day. Captain Mike Carter went 3-for-5 with four RBIs, Gaby Rosa (3 hits) garnered repeated praise from the ESPN broadcast crew. Multi-sport star Jawuan Harris after recording two homers the night before, added two doubles and four runs scored. Chris Folinusz went yard as he did his best to replace departed MVP RJ Devish while backstopping the Knights in the humidity. Chris Campbell had a good game at the plate (2 hits, 2 RBI) but it was his two innings of relief on the hill that halted any momentum and dreams of a miracle comeback.

In aggregate, the Knights outscored the Hurricanes by the count of 21-17 on the strength of five multi-run innings Sunday.

RU will face another ranked (and ACC) opponent next weekend at No. 18 Virginia.