His collegiate career was only one game old, but Ruta had already found out what it feels like to play the role of hero. The rookie’s late-inning heroics propelled Wagner to an Opening Day victory over Big East member Villanova on Feb. 22. Entering the game as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning, and staying on to play third base the rest of the way, Ruta went 2-for-2 with a run scored and was responsible for the game-winning RBI in the 7-6 extra-inning victory. With Wagner down to its final three outs and trailing Villanova by two runs, the 6-foot-2 infielder delivered a pinch-hit single and eventually came around to score the tying run. He came through again in the 10th inning, delivering a two-out run-scoring single that proved to be the difference. After helping Wagner win its season opener for the first time since 2000, Ruta earned a pair of starts during a Sunday doubleheader at No. 10 North Carolina State. He went 0-for-4 in the first half of the double dip, but bounced back by recording a hit and a stolen base in the nightcap. Through three games, Ruta owns a .300 batting average and has struck out only once in the first 10 plate appearances of his collegiate career.