NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Rutgers University spoiled today’s home-opener for the Iona College baseball team by earning a 12-3 road victory at City Park this afternoon.
The Scarlet Knights (4-7) put together three separate innings of three runs to score nine of the 12 runs as Nick Matera led the attack with four RBI on three hits. Luke Bowerbank added three RBI and a run scored on three hits while Christian Campbell and Milo Freeman added two runs and two RBI each.
Fran Kinsey led the Gaels’ (3-4) effort with three hits and a RBI. Jason Antalek, Jared Finkel and Andrew Camiolo each pitched one scoreless frame out of the bullpen for Iona. Gaby Rosa earned the victory for Rutgers behind four scoreless innings of work in relief with one hit allowed and one strikeout.
The Scarlet Knights produced the first two runs of the game in the second inning on just two hits. Jawuan Harris picked up a RBI on a bases loaded walk after Matera singled three batters prior to score the opening run. Kinsey added a RBI in the bottom of the second to score Alex Beckett and cut the lead in half.
Each team scored one run in the third inning to keep the margin at one after three innings. Lou Matarazzo scored the Iona run on a sacrifice fly from Seth Hoagland.
Following a scoreless fourth, Rutgers plated three runs in each the fifth and sixth innings that included not recording a hit in the sixth. Matera picked up two of the RBI in the fifth with a double to left field. In the sixth, a pair of fielder’s choices and a ground out scored all three runs in the frame that featured three walks and a stolen base.
Tyler Bruno singled in a run during the bottom of the eighth to spark a short Iona rally, however, three more runs in the top of the ninth for the Scarlet Knights proved to be the final margin of 12-3. Campbell earned a bases loaded walk to score the first run before Freeman and Bowerbank each singled home a run.
Rutgers finished the afternoon going 6-for-8 with runners on third base while the Maroon & Gold managed only three hits throughout 12 RBI opportunities. Both teams left 13 runners on base while Iona pitching surrendered 12 walks.
Looking ahead, the Gaels return to the road this weekend for the first three of nine straight road games with a three-game series at Maryland Eastern Shore. Originally scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, the series has been pushed to a single game on Friday at 3:00 pm followed by a noon doubleheader on Sunday due to the upcoming weather forecast.
