Tag: Rutgers baseball

Rutgers baseball defeated Michigan State in a thrilling Big Ten Opener

On Friday evening, Rutgers baseball defeated Michigan State 4-2 in a thrilling Big Ten opener.

On Friday evening, Rutgers baseball (19-7, 1-0) defeated Michigan State (10-14, 1-3) 4-2 in its Big Ten opener. The Scarlet Knights were down to their final five outs and trailed the Spartans 2-0, but a two-run home run from RJ Johnson Jr. and a two-run single from Cameron Love secured Rutgers’ comeback victory.

Rutgers pitcher Justin Sinibaldi got the nod in Rutgers’ Big Ten opener, quickly falling behind 2-0 at the end of the first inning. After the early runs, Sinibaldi settled down, logging five straight shutout innings. Sinibaldi registered another quality start, recording two runs (one earned) on five hits, striking out four, and walking one batter throughout six innings pitched.

 

Pitchers Ben Gorski and Donovan replaced Sinibald after his quality start, holding the Spartans scoreless in the seventh and eighth innings. Rutgers Joey DeChiaro earned the save on Friday, striking out two batters and forcing a pop-up to secure his fourth save in 2024.

At the plate, Johnson Jr. and Love produced all the runs for the Scarlet Knights as freshman Ty Doucette extended his hitting streak to ten games after a double down the right field line in the top of the ninth inning.

The Scarlet Knights get set to take on Michigan State in game two on Saturday at 3:35 PM.

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Rutgers baseball: No Big Ten baseball team ranked in updated top 25

There aren’t any Big Ten baseball teams ranked this week.

Despite an impressive 18-7 start to the season, Rutgers baseball is still not ranked. In fact, no team in the Big Ten made the cut in the most recent Top 25 rankings.

Earlier this season, Iowa and Indiana were ranked. Like the rest of the conference, they are now on the outside looking in as March winds down. 

So far this season, the only top-25 team Rutgers has faced is North Carolina. In a two-game series against No.19 North Carolina in mid-March, the Scarlet Knights went 0-2 while being outscored 22-15. Last week, the Tarheels were ranked 23.

Justin Sinibaldi goes the distance for @RutgersBaseball. Complete game shutout for the big lefty. Final line:

9 IP, 110 pitches
4 H
0 R
1 BB
9 K pic.twitter.com/vKRQXH2gYZ

— Brian Recca (@brian_recca) March 22, 2024


After a disappointing series against the Tar Heels, Rutgers has bounced back quickly. In their last eight games, Rutgers has posted a 7-1 record partly due to an offense that has been on fire.

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While the recent rankings were disappointing for Rutgers, they still have had a few reasons to celebrate over the last week. That includes Justin Sinibaldi, who was named the Big Ten Player of the Week on Monday. Last Friday, he held UConn scoreless in nine innings of work.

Looking ahead to April, Rutgers will get to prove itself against some of the best teams in the Big Ten. That will include a series against Indiana and Iowa on the road.

Rutgers baseball defeated NJIT to capture their 18th win

Rutgers baseball fell behind early during this midweek action but rallied in the later innings to defeat the Highlanders for their 18th win.

On Tuesday, Rutgers baseball (18-7) defeated NJIT (8-15) 8-3.

The Scarlet Knights fell behind early but rallied to defeat the Highlanders. After letting up three runs in the first two innings, the Scarlet Knights held NJIT scoreless for the remainder of the game for the win.

Rutgers pitcher Jordan Falco got the nod for the Scarlet Knights on the mound, allowing three earned runs and four hits while striking out one in four innings pitched. Falco recorded a no-decision in this matchup as pitcher Ben Gorski (3-1) got the win. Gorski logged three scoreless innings, registering four strikeouts.

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At the plate, the Scarlet Knights combined for 14 hits. Rutgers freshman Ty Doucette led the Scarlet Knights with two RBIs while second baseman Cameron Love led the team in hits with three. Doucette’s double in the sixth inning extended his hitting streak to nine games.

On Friday, the Scarlet Knights open their Big Ten schedule at Michigan State in a three-game set.

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Rutgers baseball: Justin Sinibaldi named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week

Rutgers baseball’s Justin Sinibaldi got a weekly honor from the Big Ten.

Last Friday, Rutgers left-hander Justin Sinibaldi dazzled on the mound, holding UConn scoreless in nine innings of work. Due to his latest masterpiece, Sinibaldi had a reason to celebrate on Monday. He was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week.

As Sinibaldi set the tone for the series against the Huskies, he struck out nine batters while allowing four hits. The Bridgewater native became the first pitcher in program history to throw a shutout since Howie Grey in 2016. In his latest win, Rutgers needed every bit of Sinibaldi’s brilliance.

The Huskies were able to keep Rutgers scoreless until the seventh inning. Rutgers offense then broke through, putting three runs on the board. That is all offense fans would see before the game came to a close.

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Justin Sinibaldi goes the distance for @RutgersBaseball. Complete game shutout for the big lefty. Final line:

9 IP, 110 pitches
4 H
0 R
1 BB
9 K pic.twitter.com/vKRQXH2gYZ

— Brian Recca (@brian_recca) March 22, 2024

Through 41.2 innings of work this season, Sinibaldi has posted a 3.02 ERA and struck out 40 batters. He already has four wins, only one short of matching his career high. Rutgers has had a good chance of winning whenever he has been on the mound.

While the season is far from over, the 2024 campaign is already shaping up to be one Sinibaldi won’t forget. He is on pace to set new career highs in multiple categories, including strikeouts, innings pitched, and games started.

As long he builds on his recent success, more weekly awards could be on the horizon.

Rutgers baseball: The Scarlet Knights drop series finale against UConn

On Sunday, Rutgers baseball (17-7) dropped their series finale against UConn 5-1 after defeating the Huskies on Friday and Saturday.

On Sunday, Rutgers baseball (17-7) dropped their series finale against UConn (8-13) 5-1 after defeating the Huskies on Friday (3-0) and Saturday (13-6). The Scarlet Knights were riding a seven-game winning streak heading into Sunday’s game.

Rutgers won the series against UConn, taking the first two games of the series.

Pitcher Zack Konstantinovsky got the nod on the mound for the Scarlet Knights, recording his third loss in 2024. Konstantinovsky logged a solid outing, recording six strikeouts throughout his 5.1 innings pitched. In a losing effort, Konstantinovsky allowed seven hits and one earned run. He now holds a 6.48 ERA on the season for the Scarlet Knights.

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At the plate, the Scarlet Knights were held scoreless until the bottom of the eighth inning when catcher Jackson Natili homered to left center to get Rutgers on the board. Natili’s home run was the only offense the Scarlet Knights could produce in Sunday’s loss. Rutgers registered only five hits, striking out four times while leaving four runners on base.

Rutgers freshman first baseman Ty Doucette continued his hitting streak on Sunday as he doubled to left center in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend his hitting streak to eight games.

UConn’s Stephen Quigley recorded a complete game for the Huskies, recording four strikeouts throughout his nine innings pitched. Quigley picked up his first victory in 2024 as he now holds a 3.41 ERA on the season.

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The Scarlet Knights return to action on Tuesday as they host NJIT at Bainton Field.

 

Rutgers baseball: Saturday win over UConn gives Scarlet Knights the series

On Saturday, Rutgers baseball (17-6) captured their fifth series victory when the Scarlet Knights defeated UConn (8-12) 10-3. 

On Saturday, Rutgers baseball (17-6) captured their fifth series victory when the Scarlet Knights defeated UConn (8-12) 13-6. After defeating UConn 3-0 on Friday, Rutgers followed their Game 1 victory with another dominant performance on Saturday.

Game One

Rutgers pitcher Justin Sinibaldi stole the show for the Scarlet Knights when he registered a complete game shutout against the Huskies. Sinibaldi recorded nine scoreless innings, logging nine strikeouts. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound lefty pitcher allowed four hits, giving up one walk. The Bridgewater, New Jersey native registered his fourth victory in 2024 when Rutgers defeated UConn 3-0.

At the plate, the Scarlet Knights scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning as they secured their 16th victory of the year. Rutgers third baseman Tony Santa Maria, first baseman Ty Doucette, and left fielder Johnny Volpe provided the firepower for the Scarlet Knights in game one.

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Santa Maria grabbed the lead for the Scarlet Knights with a solo home run to right field, giving Rutgers a 1-0 lead. Doucette continued the momentum with a single back up the middle to extend Rutgers’ lead to 2-0.  Volpe recorded Rutgers’ final run with a safety squeeze bunt that scored Pete Durocher and secured the Scarlet Knights’  3-0 victory over the Huskies.

Game 2

Rutgers followed their game one victory with a 13-5 win over UConn on Saturday. Rutgers’ game-two victory gave the Scarlet Knights their fifth series win in 2024. Rutgers recorded 14 hits in game two, producing 13 runs.

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Rutgers jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when second baseman Cameron Love and center fielder RJ Johnson Jr registered two doubles, scoring two runs. Right fielder Trevor Cohen followed the two doubles by Love and Johnson Jr with a two-run home run giving Rutgers a 4-0 lead.

The Huskies got on the board in the top of the third inning with a two-run home run, but the Scarlet Knights added two runs in the bottom of the frame when catcher Jackson Natili blasted a home run to keep their four-run lead.

Rutgers added two insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth inning giving the Scarlet Knights a 8-2 lead, but the Huskies cut the lead to five with an RBI single in the top of the fifth inning.

Rutgers added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, giving the Scarlet Knights a 10-3 lead. After two runs by UConn in the top of the eighth inning, the Scarlet Knights bounced back with three more runs in the bottom of the frame, giving RU a 13-5 lead.

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UConn added a run in the top of the ninth inning, but the Scarlet Knights ended the Huskies’ comeback, capturing the 13-6 victory. Pitcher Christian Coppola picked up his fourth victory in 2024, recording six strikeouts, two walks, five hits, and three earned runs in 5.2 innings pitched.

Rutgers returns to action on Sunday when they host UConn in the series finale.

 

Rutgers baseball: No Big Ten baseball teams ranked in the latest top 25

There are no Big Ten teams ranked in the top 25 of this week’s baseball polls.

Despite an impressive 15-6 start to the season, Rutgers baseball is still not ranked. In fact, no team in the Big Ten was ranked in the top 25 in the latest rankings.

Earlier this season, Iowa and Indiana were ranked, but that was short-lived as the games piled up. They are now on the outside looking in.

So far this season, Rutgers has played one team currently ranked in North Carolina, ranked No.23. In their series against the Tarheels, Rutgers went 0-2 while being outscored 22-15. Rutgers could not stop Casey Cook, who drove in six runs.

Pablo Santos’ first career hit is a bases-clearing triple!!

He brings home three more and we take an 18-1 lead in the fifth!#TCD pic.twitter.com/WHdQSbu4dS

— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) March 20, 2024

Although that two-game stretch did not go as planned, Rutgers has bounced back quickly. The Scarlet Knights have won five straight games and scored at least eight runs in every game. That stretch includes a 27-run outburst against Delaware on March 16.

As Rutgers looks to earn a top-25 ranking, it will need its offense to stay hot. So far this season, the Scarlet Knights have hit 20 home runs, seven of which belong to Tony Santa Maria. If he continues to be a hitting machine, Rutgers will be hard to stop.

Looking ahead, April will be a big month for Rutgers. They are set to take on both Indiana and Iowa on the road. Those series will be good opportunities for Rutgers to prove themselves.

Justin Sinibaldi providing Rutgers baseball with solid innings

Justin Sinibaldi is off to a strong start for Rutgers baseball.

Since making his college debut during the 2021 season, Justin Sinibaldi has become a crucial part of Rutgers rotation. As the Scarlet Knights have gotten off to a 13-6 start, the talented left-hander has set the tone on the mound.

Through five outings, Sinibaldi has pitched to a 3.86 ERA and posted a 3-0 record. He has also struck out 31 batters and allowed two home runs. His success has partly been due to his control.

In 32.2 innings, Sinibaldi has only walked two batters. His latest masterpiece came on March 17 against Winthrop. The Bridgewater, New Jersey native allowed one run in seven innings while adding two strikeouts to his resume. For the third time this season, he did not walk a batter.

 

Although the 2023 campaign is far from over, Sinibaldi has been Rutgers best pitcher. He currently leads the Scarlet Knights in innings pitched, strikeouts, wins and earned run average. Opponents are also only hitting .246 against Sinibaldi.

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With over a month left in the regular season, Sinalbdi is on pace to set new career highs in wins and innings pitched. He is making the most of his senior season while giving Rutgers a chance to win every time he steps on the mound. That is a welcome sign for Rutgers, which has high expectations for the 2024 campaign.

Rutgers baseball shortstop Josh Kuroda-Grauer is red hot in 2024

Rutgers baseball shortstop Josh Kuroda-Grauer has been on fire through the early part of the 2024 season.

Rutgers baseball shortstop Josh Kuroda-Grauer has been on fire through the early part of the 2024 season. In 21 games this season, Kuroda-Grauer has recorded a .452 batting average, logging 42 hits, 28 RBIs, nine walks, 12 doubles, and three home runs.

According to FSS Plus Senior Analyst Joe Doyle, the USA Baseball College National Team invitee and Somerset, New Jersey native is ranked No. 157 in the recently updated Top 300 board for the 2024 MLB Draft. Kuroda-Grauer has one of the best eyes in college baseball, drawing walks to get on base.

Kuroda-Grauer and Rutgers freshman first baseman Ty Doucette were named Big Ten Player of the Week for their performances last week. Kuroda-Grauer received his first weekly award from the conference, logging an outstanding performance against Delaware and No. 13 North Carolina.

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In three games against the Blue Hens, he went 12-for-17 (.706) with a home run, five doubles, eight RBIs, and nine runs scored. Against No. 13 North Carolina, Kuroda-Grauer logged a hit and run scored in both games.

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Big Ten Network releases 2024 Baseball and Softball broadcast schedules

As the baseball and softball season continues, the Big Ten Network will be the place to catch all the action

During the 2024 baseball and softball campaign, the Big Ten Network will be the place to catch all the action. On Wednesday, the network announced that it will feature nearly 600 games. Fans will also be able to stream games on the FOX Sports App and B1G+ throughout the season.

Softball coverage begins on Friday, March 22, when Illinois takes on Nebraska at 6 p.m. ET. This year, the network will also provide coverage of the Big Ten Softball Tournament from Iowa City, beginning with Game 1 on Wednesday, May 8, at noon ET and concluding with the championship game on Saturday, May 11, at 4 p.m. ET.

Lisa Byington, Sloane Martin, and Kylen Mills will be the primary play-by-play broadcasters for softball coverage. Analysis will be provided by Jennie Ritter, Elise Menaker, and Sammy Nettling.

Baseball coverage will begin on March 29 at 6 p.m. ET when Purdue visits Ohio State. The Big Ten Network will also provide coverage of the Big Ten Baseball Tournament Presented by IFS from Omaha, beginning on Tuesday, May 21. On May 26, coverage will conclude with the championship game at 3 p.m. ET.

During the baseball season, Connor Onion, Jack Kizer, and Connor McKnight will be responsible for play-by-play duties. Scott Pose, Danan Hughes, and Jeff Leise will provide analysis.

On April 6, the Network will provide its first coverage of a Rutgers game when the Scarlet Knights take on Wisconsin.