PHILADELPHIA – After a three-game series against Delaware over the weekend, the University of Pennsylvania baseball team returns to Tommy Lasorda Field at Meiklejohn Stadium on Tuesday to host Rutgers. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
 
The Quakers played their home opener on Friday with the Blue Hens on Friday, but play was suspended because of darkness and the remainder of the game was moved to Bob Hannah Stadium in Newark Saturday.
 
GAME 10: Penn (1-8, 0-0 Ivy) vs. Rutgers (6-9, 1-2 Big 10)
March 11 | Tommy Lasorda Field at Meiklejohn Stadium | Philadelphia, Pa.
Game Program (PDF) | Watch on ESPN+ | Live Stats
 
The Rutgers Series
Penn and Rutgers have played a ton of matchups since the series began all the way back in 1882. The series has been dominated by the Quakers, 36-13.
 
The teams have met just one time (2022) since 1984, with the Scarlet Knights prevailing, 8-4, in Piscataway. Penn have won 10 of the last 12 meetings dating back to March 30, 1963.
 
The Red and Blue are 29-7 all-time against Rutgers in Philadelphia. This will be the first time the teams are meeting at the Meik.
 
Win No. 1 in the Books!
It took a couple weeks, but Penn finally cracked the win column with a 2-1 victory over Delaware in Newark on Saturday. The win snapped a seven-game losing streak to begin the campaign.
 
Nick Spaventa gave the Quakers a 1-0 lead on an RBI single and Sebastian Haggard put in work during his first career start. He struck out seven batters over 4.1 innings, allowing one run (none earned) while scattering five hits.
 
Proving to be the game-winning run, Ernie Echevarria doubled to left field to take a 2-1 lead. The bullpen thrived the rest of the way, Marty Coyne tossing 3.2 shutout frames to earn the win and Thomas Shurtleff striking out a batter to earn his first save.
 
At The Plate
Four Penn hitters are batting above .300 through the first nine games of the season, led by Asa Wilson (.357), Ryan Taylor (.333), Qwynn Ahearn (.333), and Gavin Collins (.324).
 
Collins has a team-high 12 hits, while tied with Davis Baker in RBIs with six. In addition to his 10 hits, Taylor has walked a team-high eight times so far.
 
Ahearn is the only Quaker with more than one homer (2), while six others have launched one apiece.
 
Collins leads the team with a five-game hitting streak, tied for the longest of the year with Taylor and Spaventa. Spaventa has reached base safely in six straight games.
 
On The Mound
The Penn bullpen has been strong this season, evident by a pair of strong performances against Florida State and then in the win over UD on Saturday.
 
Haggard (0-0, 2.70 ERA) has been electric to begin his collegiate career, striking out 17 batters over 10.0 innings, walking only three.
 
Jake Moss (0-0, 4.00), Thomas Shurtleff (0-1, 0.00), Connor Darling (0-0, 6.23), and John Cerwinski (0-1, 4.91) have been reliable arms out of the pen through the first nine contests.
 
Josh Katz (0-2, 28.80) is slated to get the start on Tuesday, looking to bounce back after a slow start.
 
Scouting The Scarlet Knights
Rutgers enters Tuesday after opening Big 10 conference play by dropping two out of three games at home to Iowa.
 
The Scarlet Knights began the series with a 5-4 win on Friday, but fell 16-0 on Saturday and 12-6 on Sunday.
 
RU enters the new week with a 6-9 overall record and wins over Kennesaw State, Grand Canyon, Saint Joseph's, Delaware and the Hawkeyes.
 
Two hitters—Trevor Cohen (.397) and JD Jones (.318)—are batting over .300 to begin the year. Both Nick Tomasetto and Ty Doucette have a team-leading two home runs. Tomasetto leads the team with 16 RBIs. Cohen is currently ranked 18th in the nation in doubles (8). He's also the toughest player to strike out in the Big 10 with a K average of 15.8.
 
Rutgers pitching is allowing 6.99 runs per game and are led by Quinn Berglin (1-1, 0.87), who has 10 strikeouts and four walks in six appearances. Tuesday's projected starter Jack Kirchner (0-0, 0.00) is making his third start of the season, striking out four and walking four over 4.2 innings.
 
Reliever Joe Mazza (1-1, 4.38) has a team-high 19 punchouts this year.
 
Follow The Action
Tuesday's midweek contest will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Cory Nidoh on the play-by-play call. Live stats will also be provided.
 
For the latest on Penn baseball, follow @PennBaseball on X (formerly Twitter), @Penn_Baseball on Instagram, and on the web at PennAthletics.com.