MACON, Ga. – Rutgers baseball secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Mercer on Sunday afternoon, clinching the road series over the Bears and wrapping up its spring break trip to Georgia with a 6-1 record.
The Scarlet Knights (10-8) used clutch pitching from Sam Bello and Ben Gorski out of the bullpen to hold onto their one-run advantage, which included Gorski picking up back-to-back strikeouts with the winning run on base to end the game.
RU got out to a 1-0 lead on Chris Brito’s team-best fourth home run of the season, a solo shot to left. The lead stretched to 3-0 in the fourth thanks to a Jordan Sweeney sac fly and Evan Sleight RBI single.
The Bears were able to push 2 runs across in the sixth, but Sam Bello did a masterful job pitching around inherited runners. After entering the game with no outs, Bello induced a pair of groundouts and got a strikeout to end the frame with runners on second and third.
Bello remained in the game and pitched scoreless seventh and eighth innings, giving his team a huge lift.
Ben Gorski picked up his third save of the season, striking out back-to-back hitters with the winning run on base.
Jake Marshall got the start and pitched into the sixth inning, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on just one hit and one walk, while striking out eight hitters. He earned the win to improve to 2-1 on the season.
The Scarlet Knights return to New Jersey having gone 6-1 on their spring break trip to Georgia, picking up a three-game sweep at Georgia Southern, a midweek win at Kennesaw State and taking two-of-three from Mercer.
Up next for Rutgers is a pair of midweek games at Bainton Field. RU will take on Rider on Tuesday and Lafayette on Wednesday, with both games set for 3 p.m. first pitches.
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