Tag: Ryan Lasko

Watch: Rutgers centerfielder Ryan Lasko pulls off the best play of the Big Ten baseball season

Ryan Lasko of Rutgers baseball makes a tremendous catch in Big Ten action.

On Friday night, Ryan Lasko pulled off what is undoubtedly the play of the Big Ten baseball season, the Rutgers centerfielder making a diving catch and landing body first, in mid-air, into the outfield wall.

The play came with two outs in the eighth inning when Minnesota’s Kyle Bork drove the ball deep to right-center field. Bork’s solid connection appeared destined to be an extra-base hit. But Bork closed down on the ball, leaping and making a tremendous catch.

Rutgers finished the inning up 7-6. Minnesota would score twice in the home half of the ninth inning as Rutgers dropped a second straight game with an 8-7 loss.

The Scarlet Knights are now 32-21 and 13-10 in the Big Ten.

Check out this tremendous bit of athleticism from Lasko to rob Bork of what was supposed to be a sure-fire hit:

 

As for Lasko, he is having an All-Big Ten caliber season, batting .338 with 11 home runs.

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Rutgers spring athletic shifts focus to 2024, baseball prepares for tournament play

The playoffs have already provided exciting moments for the Scarlet Knights but have also been full of heartbreak.

With summer on the horizon, all of Rutgers spring athletics have shifted their focus to 2024 except for baseball, which still has two games left in the regular season. The playoffs have already provided exciting moments for the Scarlet Knights but have also been full of heartbreak.

Women’s lacrosse shocked the world by beating a higher seed in John Hopkins in their first playoff game before falling to Maryland. Men’s lacrosse and softball did not have the same luck, as they both suffered early playoff exits.

Over the next few weeks, Rutgers fans will shift their focus to baseball, with the season finale set for this Saturday. After that, the Scarlet Knights will begin their playoff run and would be the fifth seed if the season ended on Friday. They have thrived against Big Ten teams lately, which is a good sign.

As the Scarlet Knights look to make a deep playoff run, there still should be a few unforgettable moments left in a 2023 campaign that has been a rollercoaster ride.

Check out what is going on with spring sports around Rutgers!

Rutgers baseball: Jordan Sweeney is heating up at the plate

Jordan Sweeney has been performing well for Rutgers baseball this year.

With the Big Ten tournament only weeks away, Rutgers baseball has found its groove offensively. They have won five straight and scored 46 runs in that span. While they are getting contributions from everyone in the lineup, Jordan Sweeney is taking his game to another level.

In his last five games, the New Jersey native has driven in seven runs and added two multi-hit games to his resume. As the Scarlet Knights have improved their playoff positioning, Sweeney has come through with runners in scoring position. That has added depth to a lineup that is full of talent.

Due to his recent play, Sweeney has 39 RBI this season. That is the third most on the team, trailing only Ryan Lasko and Chris Brito. Since the calendar flipped to April, the Egg Harbor Township High School product has two games with at least four RBI. Regardless of the opponent, he has come through for this Rutgers team.

Although Sweeney is only hitting .266 this season, his bat is coming alive at the perfect time. Last weekend against Penn State, the offense showed how dangerous it could be with everyone chipping in. That will be key when tournament play begins.

With their talented infielder at his best, the Scarlet Knights have moved into third place in the Big Ten standings. As they look to continue their rise, Sweeney will be the center of their success with, wins at a premium.

 

Rutgers sweeps Penn State in convincing fashion

Rutgers baseball swept Penn State over the weekend.

With the regular season winding down, Rutgers swept Penn State in dominating fashion this past weekend. The Scarlet Knights welcomed the Nittany Lions to Piscataway and outscored them 26-3 in three games. As Rutgers improved to 11-7 in Big Ten play, there were plenty of memorable moments.

On Friday, Rutgers started the series with an 8-1 win which included a grand slam from Chris Brito. Penn State could not stop Rutgers offense as four players, including Andy Axelson, Ryan Lasko, Cameron Love, and Brito, had multiple hits. It was only the start of a big weekend for the Scarlet Knights offense.

Their success continued on Saturday with a 10-0 win. Evan Sleight and Trevor Cohen combined to drive in four runs, and every starter except for Cameron Love had a hit. Rutgers continued to get dominating pitching as Drew Conover and Grant Besser struck out 12 Penn State batters while not allowing a run.

In the series finale, the Scarlet Knights did not hold back on their way to an 8-2 win. Cameron Love drove in two runs, and Rutgers got on the board early with five runs in the first inning. Chris Brito also continued to swing a hot bat with his second home run of the series. Over the weekend, the Scarlet Knights scored 11 runs in the first inning.

Due to their success, the Scarlet Knights are now the third-best team in the Big Ten. With the regular season winding down, conference wins are at a premium, with every team looking to improve their postseason positioning. After taking care of business convincingly, the Scarlet Knights will shift their focus to their series against Illinois, which starts on Friday.

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Rutgers spring athletics prepare for tournament play and the 2024 season

With summer on the horizon, most of Rutgers athletics are preparing for tournament play or have already shifted their focus to 2024.

With summer on the horizon, most of Rutgers athletics are preparing for tournament play or have already shifted their focus to 2024. The spring season has been full of exciting moments, including last week when Rutgers women’s lacrosse shocked the lacrosse world.

While the Rutgers lacrosse season has come to an end, baseball and softball still have a few series left before the Big Ten tournament kicks off. They have both struggled in conference play but have excelled at home. Over the next few weeks, they will be looking to put themselves in the best position to be successful come postseason play.

For Rutgers fans, this weekend will feature a few exciting matchups. Starting on Friday, Rutgers baseball will host Penn State for a three-game series, and softball welcomes Northwestern to town. Both series are an opportunity for Rutgers to improve their record in conference play. With playoff seeding on the line, it should be a fun weekend in Piscataway.

Check out what is going on with spring sports around Rutgers!

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Rutgers baseball walks it off against interstate rival Princeton

Rutgers baseball (27-18, 8-7) walks it off against the Princeton Tigers in the bottom of the ninth to defeat their interstate rival 8-7.

Rutgers baseball (27-18, 8-7 Big Ten) walks it off against the Princeton Tigers (21-19, 12-6 Ivy League) in the bottom of the ninth to defeat their interstate rival 8-7.

Scoring

The Tigers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with a solo home run by right fielder Scott Bandura in the top of the second inning. With a single by Cam Love in the bottom of the second inning, the Scarlet Knights tied the game 1-1.

Princeton broke the tie in the top of the third inning with a double by center fielder Brendan Cumming and a single by Bandura, giving the Tigers a 3-1 lead. Rutgers cut the Tigers’ lead to one in the bottom of the fifth inning with a single by centerfielder Ryan Lasko (3-2). Kyle Vinci’s two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning extended Princeton’s lead to 5-2.

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In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Scarlet Knights tied the game (5-5) with a triple by Lasko (2 RBIs) and a flyout by Sleight (1 RBI). The Tigers fought back, taking the lead with Vinci’s second two-run home run of the game (7-5).

In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Scarlet Knights were down by two with only three outs remaining. With a lead-off single by Rutgers short-stop Josh Kuroda-Grauer, Lasko tied the game with a two-run home run to left field. Lasko had five at-bats in this match-up, recording three hits, leading to five RBIs.

After Lasko’s game-tying home run, Rutgers had a single (Chris Brito) and a hit by pitch (Evan Sleight), leading to Jordan Sweeney’s walk-off single.

Pitching

Rutgers Wyatt Parliament started the game for the Scarlet Knights, recording 2.2 innings pitched, three hits, three runs, five strikeouts, and one walk. Rutgers reliever Garrett French (2-1) picked up his second win of the season, coming in with a bases-loaded jam in the top of the ninth inning to hold the Tigers’ lead to two.

The Scarlet Knights are back in action on Friday when they host the Penn State Nittany Lions for a three-game weekend series.

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Rutgers baseball’s Ryan Lasko is providing a reminder of his importance

So far this season, Ryan Lasko has provided a spark for Rutgers offense

Over the last few years, few players have been more important to Rutgers success than Ryan Lasko. The New Jersey native has gone from a player who only received one collegiate offer to an MLB draft prospect. As the Scarlet Knights have gotten off to a 13-11 start, Lasko is again proving his importance.

Through 93 at-bats, the Jackson Memorial High School product has posted a .292 batting average with 17 runs batted in. He is third on the team in total bases with 46 and has added ten extra-base hits to his resume. While Lasko has only hit four home runs, his speed makes life difficult for the opposition.

In 24 games, Lasko has stolen eight bases and not been caught once. He is only five short of tying his career high. In his third season with the Scarlet Knights, he has been an on-base machine and is second on the team in walks with 17.

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Due to his play, Lasko has the chance to join a special group. He is currently projected to be an early-round pick in the 2023 MLB draft. If that were to happen, he would be Rutgers’ fourth-ever first-round draft pick and the first since Todd Frazier in 2007. Some scouts see him as a five-tool player, and he should generate plenty of interest on draft day.

During his time at Rutgers, Lasko’s offense has improved every year. He can hit for average and power while causing havoc on the basepaths. However, his best traits are his athleticism and defense. Lasko’s above-average speed should allow him to stay in center field for the long term. Right now, Rutgers is benefiting from his unique skillset.

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While the season is far from over, Lasko has picked up where he left off last year. On a team with high expectations, he has set himself apart and shown why he has a bright future ahead.

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Evan Sleight is showing why his name could be called in the MLB Draft

Evan Sleight has been an on base machine for Rutgers

Entering the 2023 campaign, Rutgers had three players ranked among the top 300 hundred prospects for the 2023 MLB Draft. That listed included Ryan Lasko, Evan Sleight, and Drew Conover. While they have all excelled this season, Sleight has been an on-base machine. Through the first few weeks of the season, he is showing why he could be an appealing prospect when the MLB Draft comes around.

Through 90 at-bats, Sleight has posted a team-leading .389 batting average with 14 runs batted in. He has also shown some power as 14 of his 35 hits of gone for extra-bases. However, Sleight’s biggest asset is his ability to get on base.

In 24 games, the Framingham native has posted 1.128 OPS and .472 on-base percentage. If the 2023 season ended today, Sleight would lead Rutgers in both those categories. He has also added two steals to his resume and forced 13 walks. Sleight has continued to show excellent control of the strike zone and made the most of his plate appearances.

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The Belmont High School product also ranked among the best in college baseball for line drive rate in 2022. He has continued to make hard contact this year and already has nine doubles. His career high is ten. Sleight is projected to be a DH at the next level but has been solid in the outfield defensively.

While Sleight’s play has been hard to ignore, he entered the 2023 season ranked 186th on the 2023 MLB Draft prospects board. If he can continue his hot start, Sleight could rank higher on draft night. Regardless of when his name is called, Sleight should draw a lot of interest due to his impressive career as a Scarlet Knight.

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Rutgers baseball Evan Sleight in action this summer during the Cape Cod League.
BREWSTER 8/11/22 Evan Sleight of Bourne arrives home as Brewster catcher Kurtis Byrne turns for the throw. Cape League final game

Bourne At Brewster Cape League Final

Rutgers baseball swept by former Big East rival UConn

Rutgers baseball (12-11) played their series finale against UConn (16-5) on Sunday, dropping their third consecutive game to the Huskies.

Rutgers baseball (12-11) played their series finale against UConn (16-5) on Sunday, dropping their third consecutive game to the Huskies 9-7. The Scarlet Knights kicked off the series against the Huskies on Friday, losing both games of the doubleheader 9-8 (11 innings) and 6-5. With three straight losses, the Scarlet Knights are eighth in the Big Ten standings with a 12-11 overall record. After being swept, Rutgers’ away record (8-9) has fallen below .500. 

Game 1

In game one, Rutgers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Outfielder Evan Sleight blasted a solo home run, providing the first run of the game. Shortly after, catcher Andy Axelson and outfielder Ryan Lasko contributed RBIs singles, giving Rutgers a 3-0 lead. 

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The Huskies would storm back, taking a 7-5 lead in the bottom of the seventh, but the Scarlet Knights didn’t quit. In the top of the eighth, the Scarlet Knights took an 8-7 lead when second baseman Cameron Love blasted a two-run double. UConn tied the game in the bottom of the ninth, forcing extra innings. The Huskies walked it off with an RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning to give UConn the victory. 

Game 2

In the second game of the doubleheader on Friday, Rutgers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Axelson contributed another RBI when he drove in Jordan Sweeney to give Rutgers the early lead. UConn blasted a grand slam in the bottom of the second, giving the Huskies a 4-1 lead over the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers battled back in the ninth but fell short, giving the Huskies a 6-5 victory.

Game 3

The Huskies kept their foot on the gas and defeated the Scarlet Knights 9-7 in their series finale. UConn scored all nine of their runs via the long ball, hitting five home runs on the day.

The Scarlet Knights opened the game with an early lead for the third straight game. Rutgers started the game with a solo home run by Rylan Lasko, giving the Scarlet Knights the early lead. The Scarlet Knights added a second run in the top of the first, but UConn would tie the game in the bottom half with two solo home runs. 

The Scarlet Knights grabbed the lead late in the top of the eighth when Lasko belted his second home run, giving Rutgers a 7-6 lead. With UConn down to their last out, the Huskies would walk it off with a three-run home run to complete the sweep. Rutgers is back in action on Wednesday when they take on NJIT at Bainton Field.

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Rutgers baseball came alive during a weekend sweep

Rutgers baseball completed their 3-game series against Georgia Southern, sweeping the Eagles and combining for a no-hitter in game 3.

Rutgers baseball completed their three-game series against Georgia Southern (7-10), sweeping the Eagles with three straight victories. With their three consecutive wins (Game 1: 5-2 / Game 2: 19-6 / Game 3: 7-0), Rutgers improved their overall record to 7-7. The Scarlets Knights’ bats came alive this series, outs scoring the Eagles 31 to 8. Rutgers showed their dominance, finishing game three with a no-hitter.

The Scarlet Knights took game one against the Eagles with a 5-2 victory. Rutgers starting pitcher Drew Conover picked up the win with another dominant performance. Conover pitched 6.1 innings giving up three hits and two earned runs. Drew struck out nine and walked two batters, passing the ball over to Joe Mazza and Grant Besser to complete the game.

Rutgers’ bullpen let up just one hit, shutting out the Eagles in game one. Rutgers centerfielder Ryan Lasko continued his hot streaking, adding three more hits to his stat sheet.

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The Scarlet Knights played games two and three in a doubleheader fashion, wrapping up their series against the Eagles on Saturday. Game two was all Rutgers, beating the Eagles 19-6. The Scarlet Knights’ bats exploded in this game, combining 19 hits and 18 RBIs. Rutgers shortstop Josh Kuroda-Grauer and catcher Andy Axelson stole the show for the Scarlet Knights, combining for half of Rutgers’ 18 RBIs.

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In the top of the third inning, Kuroda-Grauer hit a massive grand slam, opening up the game for the Scarlet Knights. In five at-bats, Kuroda-Grauer finished with four runs, four hits, one walk, and four RBIs.

In game three, Rutgers defeated the Eagles 7-0. Rutgers Andy Axelson caught all 18 innings on Saturday, contributing four hits and six RBIs. Also, Axelson’s catching contributed to a no-hitter in game three.

Rutgers starter Jake Marshall went five innings, giving up zero hits and striking out nine batters. Marshall handed the ball over to reliever Ben Gorski, who continued and completed the no-hitter. Gorski went four innings, giving up no hits and striking out seven batters. Marshall and Gorski made history as the first 9-inning no-hitter since Gary Malinowski in 1978. Their no-hitter is the sixth in program history.

Rutgers third baseman Chris Brito led the way for the Scarlet Knights in game three, contributing four of Rutgers’ seven RBIs. Brito finished the day with one run, two hits, and four RBIs.

The Scarlet Knights will stay in Georgia as they prepare to take on Kennesaw State on Wednesday.

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