WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth came back from 6-1 down to tie the game, but an RBI single in the eighth inning from Chris Folinusz propelled Big Ten member Rutgers to the non-conference victory on Tuesday afternoon, 7-6.

RU generated the winning run with two outs after Monmouth had climbed back to tie the game. Following a double play, Dan DiGeorgio singled and stole second before Folinusz served a base hit into right to give the Scarlet Knights the lead at 7-6, the eventual final.

Monmouth scored five consecutive runs, beginning in the second when Aidan Favia (Short Hills, NJ/Millburn) plated a run with a ground out before John LaRocca (Plainview, NY/St. Dominic) drove a two-run single back to center, immediately slicing the deficit to 6-4. In the sixth, freshman Nick Campana (Downingtown, PA/Downingtown West) laced a single the other way to trim the deficit to one, and Max Goione (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven/Siena) later singled back through the box to tie the game at six.

Rutgers scored five in the second to jump to the 6-1 advantage, doing so with two big blows. Mike Nyisztor doubled to left to place a pair, and after a walk, Nick Matera hit a bases clearing double to make it 6-1. In the first, the teams traded runs, with MU scoring on Shaine Hughes' (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) RBI ground out.

NOTES AND QUOTES
"We battled today. Our bullpen was really good today, Brambilla was excellent and Ajjan also. Counsellor was unlucky with that comebacker, and it was nice to see Joe Molettiere get back out there. We battled back from a 6-1 deficit to tie it at six, and we were able to create some opportunities late but couldn't get over the hump." – Dean Ehehalt

-Nick Campana made his first career start at first base.
-Campana notched his first career multi-hit game.
-Joe Molettiere struck out two in his first appearance since March 31.
-MU is now 1-1 against Big Ten competition this season.
-Kyle Norman did not start for the first time this season.
-Aidan Favia made his first start of the season.
-Favia also drove in his first run of the year in the game.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-MU was outhit 10-7.
-Rutgers made the only three errors in the game.
-MU pitching struck out 10 batters.
-Six Hawks contributed to Monmouth's seven hits.
-Austin Counsellor took his second loss of the year, while Ryan Wares won his second for RU. Tommy Genuario picked up his first save.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth heads to Seton Hall tomorrow to take on the Pirates at 4:00 p.m.