Rutgers baseball Ty Doucette was named to the All-True Freshman Team

Rutgers baseball Ty Doucette got named to the Pro Baseball Radar Week 5 All-True Freshman Team for his recent performance over the weekend.

On Monday, Rutgers baseball Ty Doucette was named to Pro Baseball Radar’s Week 5 All-True Freshman Team for his recent performance over the weekend. The Rutgers first baseman recorded ten RBIs against Delaware, guiding the Scarlet Knights to three victories over the Blue Hens.

Doucette had 11 at-bats against the Blue Hens, producing five runs, eight hits, ten RBIs, three home runs, and two hit-by-pitches, finishing the weekend with a .371 batting average.

The Dartmouth, Nova Scotia product had a strong start on Friday when he produced a grand slam to secure the Scarlet Knights’ game-one victory. With the game tied at 10-10 in the top of the eighth inning, Doucette’s grand slam gave Rutgers a four-run lead to secure their first victory over the Blue Hens.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound freshman logged five RBIs in Game 1 of the Delaware series with two hits throughout his five at-bats.

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Doucette continued his offensive momentum into game two on Saturday when he recorded two more hits in a winning effort. On Saturday, Doucette registered two at-bats, logging two hits, two runs, and an RBI in a 27-13 victory.

In Sunday’s matchup against the Blue Hens, Doucette produced four more hits in a 14-3 victory over Delaware.  He registered two home runs and four RBIs throughout his four at-bats.

On the season, Doucette has recorded 35 at-bats, registering 13 hits, 12 RBIs, four home runs, and three walks throughout ten games.

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Ty Doucette’s grand slam lifted Rutgers baseball over Delaware in Game 1

On Friday, Rutgers baseball (11-6) ended their four-game losing streak, defeating Delaware (8-8) 15-10 in game one. 

On Friday, Rutgers baseball  ended their four-game losing streak, defeating Delaware 15-10 in game one. With the game tied at 10-10 in the top of the eighth inning, Rutgers first baseman Ty Doucette produced a grand slam to secure the Scarlet Knights’ victory.

With the win, Rutgers improves to 11-6 on the season.

The Blue Hens jumped out to an early lead in game one when they registered a SAC fly and a single to left field to grab an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

The Scarlet Knights got on the board in the top of the second inning when Pete Durocher scored on a wild pitch to cut Delaware’s lead to one. In the bottom of the second, the Blue Hens added another run on the board when catcher Tyler Leach produced a solo blast to extend Delaware’s lead to 3-1.

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Rutgers’ bats came alive in the top of the third inning as they exploded for four runs to take the lead. Rutgers right fielder Trevor Cohen, third baseman Tony Santa Maria, and shortstop Josh Kuroda-Grauer recorded doubles as Doucette recorded a single down the left field line to give Rutgers a 5-3 lead.

After a scoreless bottom of the third for the Blue Hens, Rutgers added another run in the top of the fourth when Kuroda-Grauer singled to center field, scoring center fielder RJ Johnson Jr.

The Blue Hens came roaring back in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring three runs to tie the game at 6-6. The Scarlet Knights grabbed the lead in the top of the sixth inning when Santa Maria homered to right field and Durocher produced a SAC fly to give Rutgers a 9-6 advantage. Delaware cut Rutgers’ lead to two in the bottom half when Leach registered his second home run.

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The Scarlet Knights extended the lead to three, but the Blue Hens tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning with two home runs by Joey Loynd and Andrew Amato.

RU took control of the game in the eighth inning when Doucette recorded a grand slam to give the Scarlet Knights a four-run lead. The Rutgers first baseman logged five RBIs in game one with two hits throughout his five at-bats. The Scarlet Knights added another insurance run in the top of the ninth inning to secure their game-one victory.

Rutgers baseball returns to action on Saturday with the first pitch set at 2 PM in Newark, Delaware.

 

 

Rutgers baseball dropped series finale against High Point

After splitting a doubleheader at High Point on Friday, Rutgers baseball dropped their series finale against the Panthers 6-2 on Sunday.

After splitting a doubleheader at High Point on Friday, Rutgers baseball (10-4) dropped their series finale against the Panthers (5-11) 6-2 on Sunday.

Game 3 was a slow start for both teams, recording three scoreless innings to start the game. In the bottom of the fourth inning, High Point recorded a single to left center that produced three runs to give the Panthers a 3-0 lead.

The Scarlet Knights finally got on the board in the top of the ninth inning when they recorded three hits and a walk, cutting the Panthers’ lead to 6-2. Rutgers’ offense went cold in game three as the Scarlet Knights could only produce two runs, dropping the series finale against High Point.

After Rutgers went scoreless in the top of the fifth inning, High Point logged several hit-by-pitches, a walk, an error, and a hit in the bottom half of the fifth, extending the Panthers’ lead to 6-0.

 

Rutgers pitcher Zack Konstantinovsky picked up the loss for the Scarlet Knights. He logged four innings of work, recording four strikeouts, one walk, and five earned runs on 53 pitches. On the season, Konstantinovsky has now recorded an 8.04 ERA, 18 strikeouts, and 21 hits throughout 15.2 innings pitched.

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Rutgers baseball is back in action on Tuesday as they travel to play North Carolina (Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium) in a two-game set.

The Tar Heels are ranked No. 15 in the nation.

Rutgers baseball: Josh Kuroda-Grauer off to hot start at the plate

Josh Kuroda-Grauer has been strong for Rutgers baseball.

Through the first few weeks of the college baseball season, Rutgers offense has seemingly been unstoppable. That has partly been due to the play of Josh Kuroda-Grauer. Following a stellar sophomore campaign, the New Jersey native has taken his game to another level.

In 13 games, the Rutgers shortstop has posted a .411 batting average and driven in 17 runs. Kuroda-Grauer has also shown some power in that span, with six extra-base hits. However, that is not the only way he is making an impact.

The Franklin High School product has also been a threat on the bases, adding eight stolen bases to his resume. His career high is 13, which he should surpass in the next few weeks. For Rutgers, it has been a welcome sign to see him add another weapon to his game.

 

After entering the season with high expectations, Josh Kuroda-Grauer has not disappointed. In 2023, he was a Brooks Wallace Award Semifinalist and earned an invite to the USA Baseball Collegiate National team training camp. He was also the Cape Cod League playoff MVP. Over the last few weeks, he has picked up where he left off.

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Although the 2024 campaign is far from over, Kuroda-Grauer has played like a man on a mission. He has already added eight multi-hit games to his resume and only committed two errors. Regardless of the opponent, the talented junior has shown why he is one of the best at his position.

As the games pile up, he will be one of the players to watch in the Big Ten.

Rutgers baseball splits doubleheader against High Point University

Rutgers baseball split a doubleheader at High Point University, defeating the Panthers in game one 7-4 and falling 12-2 in the nightcap.

On Friday, Rutgers baseball (10-3) split a doubleheader at High Point University (4-11), defeating the Panthers in Game 1 by a 7-4 score. They fell 12-2 in the nightcap.

Game 1

Rutgers’ Tony Santa Maria, Josh Kuroda-Gruer, and Justin Sinibaldi stole the show for the Scarlet Knights in game one. Santa Maria and Kuroda-Gruer combined for four of Rutgers’ seven RBIs, logging a pair of home runs in game one.

The Scarlet Knights fell behind early, trailing 2-0 heading into the sixth inning, but Santa Maria tied the game with a two-run shot. With his home run on Friday, Santa Maria is the Big Ten leader in home runs with six on the season. After Santa Maria’s home run, Kuroda-Grauer followed with a booming solo shot to give Rutgers a 3-2 lead.

In the seventh inning, the Scarlet Knights added a pair of insurance runs on RBI singles from RJ Johnson Jr. and Trevor Cohen. Also, the Scarlet Knights added two more runs in the eighth inning, with Kuroda-Grauer and Pete Durocher contributing solo home runs, making the score 7-2.

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On the mound for the Scarlet Knights, pitcher Justin Sinibaldi recorded another eight-inning start. Sinibaldi recorded eight strikeouts, two earned runs, eight hits, and one walk. With his performance on Friday, Sinibaldi captured his third victory in 2024.

Game 2

The Panthers took control of game two early, recording four runs in the first on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, RBI groundout, error, and another hit-by-pitch. In the second inning, High Point added a two-out double to make it a 5-0 game. Two innings later, the Panthers would add a two-run home run, extending their lead to 7-0.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Panthers added more run support, extending their lead to 9-0. After High Point scored a pair in the bottom of the sixth inning, Rutgers Ty Doucette led off the seventh with a solo home run, cutting the lead to 9-1. Friday’s home run was Doucette’s first of his career.

The Scarlet Knights would add another run in the eighth inning from JB Jones’s double, but that would be all the offense Rutgers could produce, dropping the second game 12-2.

The Scarlet Knights wrap up their three-game series matchup against High Point on Sunday, with the first pitch set for 1 p.m.

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Rutgers baseball: No Big Ten baseball teams ranked in this week’s top 25

The Big Ten is unranked in this week’s top 25.

Despite an impressive 9-2 start to the season, Rutgers baseball is still not ranked. In fact, for the first time this season, no Big Ten team is ranked in the updated top 25 list.

It is a small change from last week as Indiana was the only team in the Big Ten to make the D1 Baseball Top 25. Iowa had been ranked earlier in the season before not making the cut last week.

Although the latest update was disappointing for Rutgers, that should change quickly if they continue their impressive start. They were led by an explosive offensive that looked unstoppable against Charleston Southern last weekend.

In their sweep over the Buccaneers, Rutgers scored 25 runs. Josh Kuroda-Grauer continued to be a force offensively, with six RBI in the series. He also added eight hits to his resume.

 

 

While Rutgers fans have had plenty to celebrate, they are not the only team in the conference that has found success. Eight teams have at least six wins.

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As Rutgers looks to earn a national ranking, they will have a chance to prove themselves in five days when they take on North Carolina. The Tar Heels are currently ranked as the 16th-best team in the country. A series win would be a big statement for Rutgers.

Rutgers baseball wins two of three to capture the series over Charleston Southern

Over the weekend, Rutgers baseball won two of three games over Charleston Southern to capture their third series victory in 2024.

Over the weekend, Rutgers baseball (8-2) won two of three games over Charleston Southern (5-6) to capture another series victory. The Scarlet Knights opened their three-game set with an 11-8 loss on Saturday morning but would bounce back to win 9-1 on Saturday night and 9-7 on Sunday. The Scarlet Knights captured their third series victory in 2024 with back-to-back wins.

Game 1

Rutgers jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in game one, but the Scarlet Knights failed to hold the lead, giving up three runs in the bottom of the first inning and an RBI double in the second inning, cutting the lead to 5-4.

In the top of the third inning, Rutgers RJ Johnson increased the lead to 7-4 with a two-run double. The Scarlet Knights added another run in the top of the fourth inning with a sac fly by Hugh Pinkney.

Charleston Southern chipped away at the lead with a solo home run, cutting Rutgers’ lead to 8-5. Rutgers’ momentum would end in the bottom of the fourth inning when the Buccaneers closed the game with six unanswered runs to capture the 11-8 victory.

 

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Game 2

Game two started slow, with both teams trading zeroes in the first two innings. In the top of the third inning, Rutgers Josh Kuroda-Grauer, Pete Durocher, and Jordan Sweeney drove in runs with RBI singles to give Rutgers a 3-0 lead.

With Jackson Natili, Johnny Volpe, and Cameron Love registering a single, a sac bunt, and a sac fly, the Scarlet Knights extended their lead to 6-0 in the top of the fourth inning. In the seventh inning, the Scarlet Knights added three more runs to extend their lead to 9-0.

Rutgers pitcher Justin Sinibaldi recorded a career performance on the mound for the Scarlet Knight, logging a career-high 11 strikeouts. He went a career-high eight innings, giving up just one run on four hits and zero walks.

Game 3

The Scarlets Knights continued their offensive momentum in game three by recording nine runs on 15 hits. After falling behind 3-0 in the first inning, Rutgers chipped away at the Buccaneers’ lead with one run in the third. The Scarlet Knights exploded in the fourth inning, registering five runs to take the lead.

Charleston Southern didn’t quit, tying the game at 6-6 with a two-out double in the seventh inning. In the eighth inning, Love produced an RBI single to center to break the tie, giving Rutgers a 7-6 advantage. Again, the Buccaneers did not go away easy, tying the game at 7-7 in the bottom of the eighth with two straight doubles to start the frame.

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Pinkney started the rally in the top of the ninth inning for the Scarlet Knights, recording a double with one out. Rutgers’ Trevor Cohen recorded the game-changing blow, lining a single up the middle to make it 8-7. After Cohen’s RBI single, Durocher added an insurance run to extend Rutgers’ lead to 9-7.

Rutgers pitcher Joey DeChiaro held the Buccaneers scoreless in the bottom of the ninth to capture the 9-7 victory.

The Scarlet Knights return to action for their home opener on Tuesday against Wagner at 3 p.m. at Bainton Field.

 

Rutgers baseball takes on Charleston Southern in a three-game set

After winning two of three games last weekend and a midweek road win, Rutgers gets ready to take on Charleston Southern in a three-game set.

After taking two of three games from Old Dominion last weekend and a midweek road victory against St. Joe’s, Rutgers baseball (6-1) gets ready to take on Charleston Southern (4-4) in a three-game set starting on Friday.

Friday will mark the first time the Scarlet Knights will face off on the diamond against Charleston Southern, with the first pitch scheduled at 5 p.m. In game one, Rutgers will have Christian Coppola on the hill, followed by Justin Sinibaldi and Zack Konstantinovsky in games two and three on Saturday and Sunday.

Last time out, the Scarlet Knights won its second straight road series to start the season, defeating Old Dominion 10-3 on Friday and 7-6 on Saturday to secure last weekend’s series. The Scarlet Knights strung together ten runs on 15 hits at the plate to compliment a stellar performance by Coppola in game one. Coppola recorded nine strikeouts throughout his six innings of work.

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As for their 15-9 victory over St. Joe’s on Tuesday, Rutgers’ offense was led by redshirt sophomore infielder Tony Santa Maria with two home runs, recording a three-hit game.

Rutgers heads into their weekend matchup against Charleston Southern, ranking among the Big Ten and the nation’s best in multiple categories. The Scarlet Knights lead the Big Ten Conference with 7.03 hits allowed per nine innings, 18 stolen bases, 2.57 stolen bases per game, a 2.98 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and a 1.14 WHIP.

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Rutgers baseball lands Canadian pitcher Cameron Johnson

Rutgers baseball has another commitment in the 2024 class.

Cameron Johnson, a left-handed pitcher, committed to Rutgers baseball on Wednesday as part of the 2024 recruiting class.

Out of TNXL Academy in Ocee, Florida, Johnson consistently throws his fastball in the 88-90 mile per hour range. From Canada, Johnson gives Rutgers baseball another strong arm to develop.

He will join two other Canadians at Rutgers along with catcher Hugh Pinkney and infielder Ty Doucette (who also played a season at TNXL).

The addition of Johnson is another important piece for Rutgers head coach Steve Owens as he looks to get the baseball program consistently into the NCAA Tournament.

Johnson made his commitment public on Thursday afternoon:

 

Rutgers baseball is off to a 3-0 start this season, following their season-opening series at Winthrop. This weekend, they play at Old Dominion, who went 32-23 and lost to James Madison in the Sun Belt Championship.

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In the sweep of Winthrop, the aforementioned Doucette stepped in nicely for Rutgers. The freshman had two hits in seven at-bats, including a double. He also crossed home plate twice for Rutgers. 

Rutgers baseball Ben Gorski and Sam Portnoy was named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watchlist

Rutgers baseball Ben Gorski and Sam Portnoy was named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watchlist as the top relievers in the country.

On Monday, Rutgers baseball Ben Gorski and Sam Portnoy were named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Watchlist as the top relievers in the country.

The Scarlet Knights are coming off a three-game sweep over Winthrop Eagles last weekend, where Gorski and Portnoy contributed to those victories.

Gorski made his 2024 season debut on Sunday, facing three batters in the bottom of the fifth inning to hold Rutgers’ 5-3 lead. The Chatman, New Jersey native recorded six pitches, logging one fly out to center field and a line out to right field, doubling off a baserunner at first base.

Last season, Gorski recorded his best season as a Scarlet Knight. He logged a 3.40 ERA with eight saves and 46 strikeouts in 39.2 innings pitched. In 2023, Gorski was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team and was the Big Ten Co-Pitcher of the Week (3/13/2023).

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As for Portnoy, the Rutgers reliever made his 2024 debut on Sunday but did not have a strong start like Gorski. Portnoy logged 25 pitches, letting up two earned runs with two walks and a hit, facing seven batters.

In three seasons with the Scarlet Knights, the Voorhees, New Jersey native has logged a 3.72 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 58 innings pitched. Portnoy has recorded a 6-1 record with one save, appearing in 42 games for the Scarlet Knights.

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