Rutgers Hands Baseball 7-4 Defeat

Wednesday, April 15

Piscataway, N.J.

3:30 PM

Columbia

Rutgers

4/15/2015 6:14:00 PM | Baseball

By: Columbia University Athletics

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PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Columbia baseball team fell behind early and could not quite recover in a 7-4 loss at Rutgers Wednesday. The Lions trailed by six in the seventh and brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but ultimately fell to 19-12 overall with the defeat.

The Scarlet Knights' (12-23-1) pitching staff limited Columbia's offense to just six hits, but did give up a pair of homers in the contest.

Robb Paller started the scoring with a solo home run in the top of the first, but it did not take long for Rutgers to respond.

A single and two walks loaded the bases with no outs, but Bryce Barr came in relief to limit the damage. The Scarlet Knights did score two runs via sac fly and wild pitch, but Barr retired all three batters he faced in order to keep it a one-run ballgame.

However, Rutgers manufactured another two runs in the second. With two on, Joe D'Annunzio found a hole through the left side of the infield to extend the margin to 4-1.

In the bottom of the fourth, two hits and an error put runners on second and third for designated hitter Kyle Walker, who singled to bring in two more in. Another sacrifice fly gave the Scarlet Knights a 7-1 cushion before the Lions' comeback bid.

Columbia started the rally in the seventh, using a ground-rule double by Gus Craig to set the table for Randell Kanemaru. The first-year shortstop followed with his second long ball of the year to trim the deficit to four with no outs. Columbia put two more runners, but a double play ended the threat.

In the ninth, Nick Maguire doubled and moved to third on a throwing error. With runners on the corners, Lane Robinette went opposite field to right to pull the Lions within three, but Ryan Wares induced a pair of fly outs to end the game.

Zack Bahm started, but did not record an out and took the loss. The combination of relievers Willis Robbins, Ryan Marks, Matt Robinson and Harrisen Egly threw 4.2 of one-hit, shutout ball to wrap up the game.

Columbia returns to Ivy League play when they host Cornell for a four-game series at Robertson Field at Satow Stadium on April 18-19. Game one of Saturday's doubleheader is slated for a 12 p.m. start on the Ivy League Digital Network.