St. Johns jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead when junior Billy Graiser (Muttontown, N.Y./Miller Place) hit a leadoff single, moved to second on a single by freshman Mike Rozema (Fair Lawn, N.J./Fair Lawn) and to third on an error. Junior Charlie Bilezikjian (Staten Island, N.Y./Port Richmond) grounded out to short, giving SJU a 1-0 lead.

The lead grew to 4-0 in the second as the Red Storm rattled RU starter Tommy Wheeler. Junior J.P. Cirigliano (Flushing, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) singled, moved to second on balk and to third when junior third baseman Jason Kane (Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford) singled. A run-scoring single by senior catcher Eric Potts (Little Ferry, N.J./Ridgefield Park) followed by an infield single from freshman Josh Stewart (Boalsburg, Pa./Boalsburg Area) loaded the bases. Graiser walked to drive in a run and Rozemas ground ball out increased the lead to 4-0.

Goldberg, however, loaded the bases with one out and then issued a bases loaded walk to Brian Ciemniecki, before Matt Wolskis two-run single cut the lead to 4-3.

The Red Storm bounced right back, scoring three more times in the third. After retiring the first two batters of the inning, Goldberg loaded the bases again. A wild pitch cut the lead to 7-4 and a bases loaded walk made it a two-run game. Cimniecki hit a two-run single to right and Wolski blasted a shot to left for a three-run homer, giving Rutgers a 9-7 lead.

St. Johns cut the lead to 9-8 in the fourth, but that was as close as they would get as three relievers gave up nine more runs in the final five innings.

In the first game, Rutgers scored two runs off of sophomore starter Geno Orsogna (Norfolk, Mass./Bishop Feehan) en route to a 2-1 win.

Ciemniecki led off the bottom of the first with a bunt single and was on second when Val Majewski walked. Billy McCarthy and Mike Popowski followed with singles to left that scored both runners, giving the Scarlet Knights a 2-0 lead.

The Red Storm put runners on base in each of the first three innings but could put one in scoring position until Bilezikjian singled and moved to third on a double to left by senior first baseman Chris Fallon (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne). Rutgers started Bobby Brownlie struck out the next batter, but St. Johns cut the margin in half when Kane lofted a fly ball to right, scoring the games first run.

Orsogna loaded the bases in the second, but was able to escape and retired seven in a row at one point. The Red Storm, meanwhile, put runners on second and third with none out after a pair of errors, but could not tie the game. In the seventh, Cirigliano led off with a single and was on second when freshman pinch-hitter Michael Rhoads (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) was hit by a pitch. Brownlie, who improved to 5-2 with the win, struck out Rozema to end the game.

The Red Storm and Scarlet Knights wrap up their three-game series on Sunday at the Class of 53 Complex. First pitch is scheduled for noon.