Taking the rubber match of a home Big Ten series is big news for Rutgers baseball, especially with conference tournament time almost here.
Rutgers baseball (32-19, 13-8 Big Ten) shut out Illinois (23-24, 12-12) and won the weekend series with a 3-0 victory in the series finale on Sunday. Rutgers has now won consecutive Big Ten series as well as their last three home conference series.
The Scarlet Knights captured the series openers on Friday with a 5-4 win over the Fighting Illini. Illinois bounced back on Saturday and took game two with a 9-7 win.
Playing at ShoreTown Ballpark in Lakewood, NJ, a minor league facility, the Scarlet Knights pitching staff struck out 13 batters and picked up another 12 hits to defeat the Fighting Illini.
Rutgers left-handed pitcher Justin Sinibaldi made his first appearance since April 18, pitching five shutout innings, recording four hits, seven strikeouts, and four walks. Sinibaldi’s seven strikeouts tied a career-high.
🔥 5.0 scoreless from Justin Sinibaldi
🔥 3.0 scoreless from Jake Marshall
🔥 Eighth save of the season from Ben Gorski13 combined strikeouts for our Big Ten-leading fifth shutout of the season ⚔️#TCD pic.twitter.com/a0KRs1cl3r
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) May 14, 2023
Rutgers’ Jake Marshall relieved Sinibaldi, providing three scoreless innings. In the top of the ninth, Rutgers closer Ben Gorski shut out the Fighting Illini securing his eighth save of the season.
In the bottom of the third inning, Rutgers Ryan Lasko and Chris Brito singled to lead off the inning. With Lasko and Brito advancing to second and third by a wild pitch, Evan Sleight drove in Lasko with an RBI groundout, and Hugh Pinkney singled in Brito to give Rutgers a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Scarlet Knights picked up an insurance run with Brito’s solo home run to dead center filed, making the score 3-0.
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