Rutgers baseball opened the night at Rocky and Berenice Miller Park with a 7‑6 defeat to Northwestern, a game that swung back and forth until the final inning.
The Scarlet Knights erupted for five homers, including a two‑homer performance by Jack Sweeney, who now sits at seven season longballs.
Northwestern's Late Surge
After a third‑inning burst that saw Chase Krewson and Trey Wells launch back‑to‑back solo shots, the game settled at 3‑3 in the sixth before Northwestern tied it with three runs.
Sweeney answered with an inside‑the‑park homer in the seventh to put Rutgers ahead, but the Wildcats responded with a solo blast to seize a 7‑6 lead.
Northwestern's pitching staff locked down the final two innings, preserving the win as the Scarlet Knights' rally fell short.
The series will conclude Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m., giving both clubs a chance to rewrite the script before the final out.