In a tightly contested matchup at English Field, Rutgers baseball fell to Virginia Tech, 4-3, in the series-deciding game. The Scarlet Knights, now standing at 4-3 for the season, couldn't quite claw back after a fourth-inning surge by the Hokies, who improved to 6-1.
The action began in the third inning when Virginia Tech broke the ice with a two-out single, taking an early 1-0 lead. Rutgers responded in the fourth, as Matt Chatelle earned a walk, setting the stage for Ryan Jaros and Quinten Perilli. Both delivered clutch back-to-back RBI doubles, flipping the script and putting Rutgers ahead 2-1.
However, the Hokies were quick to counter in their half of the fourth. They unleashed a trio of scoring plays: an RBI double, an RBI single, and an RBI sac bunt, reclaiming the lead at 4-2.
Rutgers showed resilience in the fifth when Trey Wells smashed an RBI double to bring Charlie Meglio home, narrowing the gap to 4-3. Yet, that would mark the end of the scoring for the Scarlet Knights.
On the mound, Chris Sand made his debut start, showcasing promise by striking out three over 3.1 innings, though he allowed three runs on four hits. Andrew Rondini provided solid relief, pitching three scoreless innings and striking out two, but the early deficit proved insurmountable.
Despite the loss, the Scarlet Knights demonstrated tenacity and potential, setting the stage for an intriguing season ahead.