Rutgers Baseball Takes Three of Four from Minnesota

Rutgers baseball remains on fire, sweeping a double-header from Minnesota on Saturday, just a day after the two Big Ten squads split a DH on Friday.

Rutgers dominated on Saturday, taking Game 1 11-2 and Game 2 by the count of 9-2 to improve to 21-6, the best start to a season in program history through 27 games. Rutgers 5-1 record against the Big Ten is also a program best for conference play against the Big Ten.

“We got a lot of contributions from a lot of different players all weekend long,” head coach Steve Owens said. “It’s a really great weekend for us, at home, to win three games against any Big Ten opponent.”

In Game 1, Rutgers offense exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Back-to-back two-run doubles by Tony Santa Maria and Nick Cimillo played a key roll in the offensive outburst in the fourth. Both Santa Maria and Cimillo finished with three RBI’s a piece in the win.

Santa Maria would later drive in a run in the fifth inning on a sac fly, scoring Mike Nyisztor to make it a 10-0 ballgame. Cimillo followed that up with a solo shot to left to put Rutgers up big, 11-0.

The nightcap was a huge day for Danny DiGregorio (1-for-3, three runs scored, two RBI), and Chris Brito (2-for-4, four RBI).

DiGeorgio had a two-run single in the fourth inning that broke a 2-2 tie. Later in the inning, Brito crushed a bases clearing double to left that put Rutgers up 7-2. Two innings later, Brito drove on DiGeorgio on a double to right to make it 8-2.

DiGeorgio would score the final run of the day on a passed ball in the eighth inning.