Rutgers baseball made a statement over the weekend, taking a series from Nebraska.
It was an important three-game series for Rutgers, especially since Nebraska is the Big Ten’s only ranked team this season. Rutgers captured wins on Friday and then on Sunday to take the series.
After a disappointing 16-1 loss on Saturday, Rutgers baseball (22-13, 3-6) bounced back to capture a 6-4 victory over No. 21 Nebraska (23-10, 6-3) to clinch the Big Ten series.
The Scarlet Knights were down 2-0 early but took the lead in the fifth inning and never looked back. Rutgers’ victory on Sunday is their first ranked series win since 2021 when they swept Nebraska on the road.
On Sunday, the Scarlet Knights fell behind for the third straight game when the Cornhuskers recorded a sac fly in the second inning and an RBI single in the third inning to give Nebraska a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the third inning, Rutgers shortstop Josh Kuroda-Grauer roped an RBI double to cut the Nebraka’s lead to one.
Josh Kuroda-Grauer with a clutch insurance run for @RutgersBaseball who wins the series over No. 21 Nebraska! 😤 pic.twitter.com/Q3xb7M13N0
— Big Ten Baseball (@B1Gbaseball) April 14, 2024
Nebraska added another run in the fourth inning, extending their lead to 3-1 but in the bottom half, catcher Jackson Natili answered with a solo homer to keep Rutgers within one run. Later in the inning, Kuroda-Grauer tied the game with an RBI single.
With the game tied at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning, second baseman Cameron Love worked a bases-loaded walk to give Rutgers a 4-3 lead.
Rutgers right fielder Johnny Volpe added a big insurance run in the seventh inning when he recorded a solo home run, extending Rutgers’ lead to 5-3.
Each team added a run in the eighth inning, but that would be the final runs produced after a scoreless ninth inning.
With runners on the corners and two outs in the top of the eighth inning, reliever Joey Dechiaro came in to get the final out. DeChiaro remained in the game for the ninth inning and threw a scoreless inning for his fifth save.
The Scarlet Knights’ bullpen provided a huge lift, recording only one unearned run in six innings pitched.
Rutgers will return to action on Tuesday as the Scarlet Knights host Monmouth at Bainton Field.
