Rutgers Baseball prepares for home opener Tuesday

Rutgers Scarlet Knights Baseball will play their first home game of the season at Bainton Field against Wagner on Tuesday at 2:30 pm. The Seahawks (3-2) swept two games at Coppin State this past weekend. Rutgers coach Joe Litterio spent 12 seasons as the head coach of Wagner, departing with the most wins in program history (240) including one NEC regular season title and one postseason tournament championship.

First pitch: Tuesday, February 27th at 2:30 p.m. ET

Where: Bainton Field. The forecast currently calls for a high of 57 degrees with low chances of precipitation and minimal wind.

Stream it on BTN PLUS or tune into the Radio feed on WRSU 88.7 FM.

Weekend recap

After an opening weekend set with Miami (FL), Rutgers returned to the Sunshine State, this time Port Charlotte, FL, for single games against three different opponents.

Friday: #17 Indiana 7, Rutgers 6

The Hoosiers held an early 5-2 lead, but Rutgers battled back to tie the game at six in the top of the 8th inning. In the bottom of the frame, Indiana put one run across to regain the lead and retired Rutgers in the 9th to hold on for victory.

Decisive stat: Both teams tallied 11 hits, but Indiana had four for extra bases to the Knights one (a double by Nick Matera).

Notable: Matera and Jawuan Harris each contributed two RBI. John O’Reilly pitched four and a third innings. Dan DiGeorgio continues to surprise out of the number nine spot in the batting order as even though he was caught stealing once, he still managed to score two runs on the day.

Saturday: Rutgers 13, St. Bonaventure 4.

Rutgers pounded the Bonnies early and often, scoring runs in seven of the nine innings they batted. Harry Rutkowski earned his first collegiate win in five innings, he left the game with the Scarlet Knights comfortably ahead 11-3.

Decisive stat: 17 hits for Rutgers from 11 different players. 10 different players scored a run as well.

Notable: Collin Kiernan pitched two shutout innings in his college debut. Kevin Welsh went 3 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Mike Nyisztor played left field and had 3 RBI to lead the club. Luke Bowerbank tallied his second consecutive two-hit game.

Sunday: Boston College 11, Rutgers 6

Coming off his Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor, Eric Heatter turned his first career start into a quality one (6 IP, 3 R). Rutgers was in control, up 6-4 heading into the 9th inning. Karl Blum pitched the 7th and 8th innings, so Eric Reardon came in for the save attempt but gave up hits to all three batters he faced. All three ended up scoring as the Eagles stunned the Knights.

Decisive stat: Serafino Brito retired the two batters he faced to end the threat but the damage had already been done with seven runs already scoring to not only tie the score, but put the game out of reach in the 9th.

Notable: Harris stuffed the box score, he stole his 4th base of the season and added two hits, a run, and an RBI. Nyisztor, Matera, and Kyle Walker all added two hits as well.

Next up: Home Tuesday against Wagner at 2:30 pm before a trip to Norfolk, VA for a three game weekend set against Old Dominion.