via ScarletKnights.com
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (March 20, 2019) – Rutgers baseball (5-12) came up short in a 7-6 loss to Harvard (8-4) Wednesday at North Regional Park. The Scarlet Knights put the tying run in scoring position in the ninth inning after a one-out double by freshman Chris Brito, but left the runner on base.
“Difficult game today,” head coach Joe Litterio said. “We had opportunities that we left out there. We had a runner at third with no outs in the fifth and couldn’t get him in. Second-guessed a read in the fourth on a hit to center where we should have scored. We are leaving runs out there. I told the guys these aren’t the hard runs, the two-out hits, these are the easy ones where a groundball or sac fly gets the job done. That’s the difference in a one-run game. We have to do a better job when those situations are available.”
The Scarlet Knights picked up 10 hits, with sophomore Mike Nyisztor recording his fourth three-hit game of the season. Senior Tyler McNamara (two walks, single), redshirt freshman Tim Dezzi (two singles, walk), freshman Chris Brito (two hit by pitches, double) were all on base three times as well. Junior Kevin Welsh singled twice to increase his on-base streak to 12 games.
On the mound, freshman Jared Bellissimo earned his first career start and began with two scoreless innings. Six relievers followed and five did not allow an earned run.
“We will keep plugging away,” Litterio said. “Indiana State is a tough opponent and a good test heading into conference play. Figuring out how to win these one-run games will make a big difference in the season.”
SCORING
NOTES
UP NEXT
The Scarlet Knights move to the final leg of spring break by playing Indiana State (16-2) in a three-game series at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers. The weekend set starts Friday at 7 p.m.
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (March 20, 2019) – Rutgers baseball (5-12) came up short in a 7-6 loss to Harvard (8-4) Wednesday at North Regional Park. The Scarlet Knights put the tying run in scoring position in the ninth inning after a one-out double by freshman Chris Brito, but left the runner on base.
“Difficult game today,” head coach Joe Litterio said. “We had opportunities that we left out there. We had a runner at third with no outs in the fifth and couldn’t get him in. Second-guessed a read in the fourth on a hit to center where we should have scored. We are leaving runs out there. I told the guys these aren’t the hard runs, the two-out hits, these are the easy ones where a groundball or sac fly gets the job done. That’s the difference in a one-run game. We have to do a better job when those situations are available.”
The Scarlet Knights picked up 10 hits, with sophomore Mike Nyisztor recording his fourth three-hit game of the season. Senior Tyler McNamara (two walks, single), redshirt freshman Tim Dezzi (two singles, walk), freshman Chris Brito (two hit by pitches, double) were all on base three times as well. Junior Kevin Welsh singled twice to increase his on-base streak to 12 games.
On the mound, freshman Jared Bellissimo earned his first career start and began with two scoreless innings. Six relievers followed and five did not allow an earned run.
“We will keep plugging away,” Litterio said. “Indiana State is a tough opponent and a good test heading into conference play. Figuring out how to win these one-run games will make a big difference in the season.”
SCORING
- Rutgers plated three in the third on five hits. Nyisztor led off with an infield single, with Welsh and Dezzi laying down bunt hits to load the bases. McNamara followed with an RBI single, Brito lifted a sacrifice fly and freshman Peter Serruto hit an RBI single to make it 3-0.
- Harvard responded with three runs on four hits in the bottom of the third to even the score.
- The Scarlet Knights went back on top in the fourth when junior Kevin Blum led off with a walk, moved to second on a single by Welsh, stole third and scored on an RBI single to center by Dezzi.
- In the fifth, the Crimson took the lead, 5-4, after an RBI triple and an RBI single.
- An error led to two unearned Harvard runs in the sixth.
- RU cut the deficit to 7-6 in the seventh. McNamara (10-pitch walk) and Brito (hit by pitch) both reached and pulled off a double steal with two outs. An errant throw allowed McNamara to cross and a wild pitch followed to permit Brito to follow.
NOTES
- Rutgers, stranding 10 runners, went 4-for-17 with runners in scoring position and 4-for-8 scoring a runner from third with less than two outs.
- Jack Mahala (1-0) picked up the win in two innings of relief. Kieran Shaw is now 5-for-5 in save attempts this season after working a scoreless ninth.
- It was the first meeting since 2003 and Rutgers now leads the all-time series dating back to 1948, 3-1.
UP NEXT
The Scarlet Knights move to the final leg of spring break by playing Indiana State (16-2) in a three-game series at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers. The weekend set starts Friday at 7 p.m.
