Rutgers Baseball split a double-header with Maryland the only way they know how: hit a lot of home runs.
The Scarlet Knights belted a total of nine home runs and scored a 26 runs combined in the two games, wining Game 2 18-7 after dropping Game 1 16-8.
37-11 overall
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) May 8, 2022
16-4 in Big Ten play
First place in the conference with four games left.
Ready for the home stretch 💪 pic.twitter.com/7hzAiX8ZLu
In the opener, Maryland jumped out to a 10-0 lead as Rutgers starter Jared Kollar and Parker Scott labored allowing a combined 10 runs on 11 hits over six innings of work.
Chris Brito had a big first game, driving in five runs on a 3-for-5 day that included belting a two-run homer to cut the deficit to 16-7. Richie Schiekofer and Evan Sleight also homered in defeat.
Game 2 was a different story.
After Rutgers jumped out to a 3-0 first inning lead on a RBI ground out by Brito and a two-run single by Sleight, Maryland answered in the top half of the second with a grand slam homer by Kevin Kiester to put the Terrapins up 4-3.
Rutgers quickly tied it in the bottom half of the second on a solo shot by Ryan Lasko. A few batters later Nick Cimillo powered Rutgers in front with a two-run shot to right center. Rutgers 6 – Maryland 4.
Rutgers kept chopping in the bottom of the third with a five-run inning. Tony Santa Maria drove in a run on a single, while Shiekofer and Lasko both drove in runs on doubles.
Danny DiGeorgio followed with a two-run bomb to right center, and just like that it was 11-4 RU.
Lasko had a huge second game, batting 5-fo-5 with five runs scored, four RBI, and a homer. Danny DiGeorgio went 4-for-5 with four runs scored, two RBI, and a homer. Nick Cimillo went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, three RBI and a homer.
Rutgers stands at 37-11 with eight games left in the season. Rutgers and Maryland continue their rain delayed series on Monday afternoon.