Rutgers baseball opened up their Big Ten Tournament action with a loss to No. 4 Nebraska 9-7. No. 5 Rutgers battled throughout the game, but their inconsistent pitching would cause them to fall short in the first round.
Freshman Christian Coppola got the start for the Scarlet Knights, recording six innings pitched, three strikeouts, four walks, and three earned runs. Coppola’s only mistake came in the bottom of the first inning when he let up a three-run home run to Nebraska’s Charlie Fischer to give the Cornhuskers the early lead. Coppola would settle down and give the Scarlet Knights a solid six-innings pitched.
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The Scarlet Knights’ bats would come alive in the top of the fifth innings, tieing the game up 3-3. Ryan Lasko’s sac fly and Evan Sleight’s double gave Rutgers a tie ball game heading into the bottom of the fifth inning.
As Coppola continued his strong pitching performance, the Scarlet Knights started to produce runs. Sleight’s hit-by-pitch, a walk by Cameron Love, and a sac fly by Andy Axelson gave Rutgers a 6-3 lead in the top of the seventh inning.
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The Rutgers’ lead would quickly be erased, with the Cornhuskers tieing the game with a three-run home run by Gabe Swansen off Rutgers relief pitcher Grant Besser. Later that inning, Rutgers’ Ben Gorski would relieve Besser of his duties, letting up three more runs making the score 9-6 Nebraska. Two walks and a hit-by-pitch from Gorski would give the Cornhuskers a three-run lead.
The Scarlet Knights continued to battle in the top of the eighth inning, with Lasko producing an RBI single, cutting the Nebraska lead to two. Rutgers combined nine hits would not be enough in this game, as the Scarlet Knights couldn’t mount a comeback.
Rutgers’ pitching let up nine walks and four hit batters, as the Scarlet Knights are one loss away from elimination. Rutgers baseball is back in action tomorrow as they prepare to take on No. 8 Michigan State in the elimination round.
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