Box Score PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers downed Saint Peter's 7-5 in non-conference baseball action on Tuesday.
Jon Kristoffersen (Jefferson, N.J./Jefferson Township) recorded two hits on the day to become the single-season hit leader with 65. The sophomore also scored a run.
Jim Smith (Hatfield, N.J./North Penn) went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored for the Peacocks (11-34) while Chris Hugg (Ironia, N.J./Randolph) added a two-run homer in the loss.
Nick Favatella powered the Scarlet Knights (24-22) with a 3-for-4 performance, three runs scored and an RBI while Brian O'Grady added two hits, a run scored and an RBI in the winning effort.
The game was a seesaw battle back and forth until Rutgers took the lead in the fifth and held on for the 7-5 victory to avenge last year's 10-4 loss to Saint Peter's.
With the Peacocks holding a 5-4 edge, the Scarlet Knights scored twice in the fifth to take a 6-5 advantage. Favatella scored on a wild pitch and O'Grady stole home for the two runs to give Rutgers the lead for good.
The Scarlet Knights added a run in the seventh when Favatella smacked a solo run for a 7-5 lead.
Saint Peter's jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the game after Kyle Grimes (Iselin, N.Y./John F. Kennedy Memorial) reached on a fielder's choice and touched home on Hugg's fourth homer of the year and then Smith smacked his third home run of the year for a three-run lead.
O'Grady hit an RBI single to center and Pat Sweeney singled through the left side to bring the second run home and trim the margin to 3-2 after one inning.
Rutgers tied the game at 3 on Christian Campbell's RBI double down the left field line in the second. The Scarlet Knights added a run in the third to grab a 4-3 margin on Lou Clemente's run-scoring single.
The Peacocks answered with single runs in the fourth and the fifth to retake the lead at 5-4. Three singles in the fourth tied the game after Smith led off the inning with a single to right field, Zach Rawson (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run) singled to right center with one out and Sean Henry (Brick, N.J./Brick Township) hit the ball back up the box to bring home Smith with the tying run.
In the top of the fifth, Kristoffersen doubled to break the Saint Peter's single-season hit record with his 65 base hit of the season and his 11th double of the year. The sophomore then moved to third on a wild pitch and touched home on Grimes' RBI groundout for a 5-4 lead.
Rutgers then scored the final three runs to earn the victory.
Kevin Soriano (New Milford, N.J./New Milford) took the loss for Saint Peter's.
The Peacocks return to action on Saturday at Marist for a doubleheader. The two teams will play a nine-inning game followed by a seven-inning affair. Game one starts at 12 p.m.
