PISCATAWAY, N.J. — A rare Friday morning game due to forecasted rain ended with a final score of 3-2 in favor of Rutgers. The loss drops Illinois back to the .500 mark.
The low scoring contest featured each team's top pitcher with RHP Andrew Hoffmann on the mound for the Illini and Harry Rutkowski for the Scarlet Knights. Hoffmann (6.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 SO) and Rutkowski (7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 SO) matched each other for much of the game. The second run charged to Hoffmann came after he exited.
Rutgers (20-22) got the scoring started in the fourth inning after a leadoff walk came around to score following a single and then an RBI double off the bat of Kevin Welsh.
Illinois and Rutgers would trade one-run innings in both the seventh and eighth. The Illini got on the board in the seventh with a bunt single from birthday man Cam McDonald, a stolen base and a Cal Hejza RBI single to drive him in. The Scarlet Knights responded with a pair of two-out doubles, one off Hoffmann and the other off RHP Ty Rybarczyk.
The eighth inning began with a walk to Jackson Raper, a sacrifice bunt by Branden Comia, a stolen base and then a sacrifice fly from Justin Janas. Jordan Sweeney had a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the inning to give Rutgers the 3-2 advantage. Rybarczyk (1-3) suffered the loss for the Illini.
Illinois (21-21) will return to action tomorrow against Rutgers at 12:00 p.m. CT. LHP Nathan Lavender will go to the hill.
Notes
• Andrew Hoffmann received a no-decision keeping him undefeated this season.
• Justin Janas had two hits to push his batting average to a conference-best .379.
• Cam McDonald has reached base safely in a season-high nine straight games.
