RALEIGH, NC - The Rutgers softball team (1-1) suffered its first loss of the 2003 season, falling to UNC, 10-2, in the second game of the Triangle Classic in Raleigh, NC today.

Brittney Neer (Tallahassee, FL) scored the first run of the game on a RBI single by Helen Smith (Tucson, AZ) to open the scoring in the top of the first inning, but the Tar Heels scored seven unanswered runs to seal the game. A two-run homerun in the bottom of the first put the Tarheels in the lead, and they broke it open with two more in both the second and fourth innings, followed by three more in the fifth.
Smith collected two of RU's three hits, while Neer went 1-for-2 in the loss with a walk, two stolen bases and two runs scored.

Brielle Cosentino (Carlstadt, NJ) started the game for the Scarlet Knights, pitching four innings and allowing nine runs, while striking out three. Newcomer Christine Czarnecki (Hamilton, NJ) saw her first relief innings of the season when she entered the game in the fifth inning, facing the last four batters of the game while allowing one run.

The Scarlet Knights will continue action in the Triangle Classic Saturday when they face the University of Dayton and a team to be determined based on bracket play. The weekend will conclude with a final game on Sunday against an opponent to be determined.

Score by Innings               R  H  E
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Scarlet Knights..... 100 01 -  2  3  3
North Carolina...... 221 23 - 10 13  2
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BOX SCORE