Rutgers Participates in Pride Softball Fall Classic
Oct 04 | Softball
NEWARK, N.J. - The Rutgers softball team posted a 1-2 record at last weekend's Pride Softball Fall Classic, held Oct. 1 at Branch Brook Park in Newark, N.J. The Scarlet Knights' won a convincing 6-2 decision over Bloomfield in which RU starting pitchers held the Deacons to just two runs on two hits. In Rutgers' other two games, the team dropped a 7-2 decision to St. Peter's and a 1-0 tiebreaker to Fordham.
The Scarlet Knights pounded out six runs on 11 hits in the 6-2 win over Bloomfield. Kaitlyn Valiante (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) was one of RU's top hitters in the game, driving in two runs on three hits. Sarah Kalka (Moreno Valley, Calif.) also recorded three hits, while Ashley Hartley (Ripon, Calif.) had one hit and two RBI. Jessica Crosby (Mill Creek, Wash.) started the game for the Scarlet Knights and combined with pitchers Nicole Freeman (Sandy, Utah) and Christina Yard (Hillsborough, N.J.) to hold the Deacons to just two runs on two hits.
Rutgers then lost a closely-fought battle to Fordham, dropping a 1-0 tiebreaker. Fordham could manage just four hits off Scarlet Knight pitching, as Nicole Lindley (Cicero, N.Y.) and Freeman combined to hold the Rams to one run. Unfortunately, RU's offense struggled, as well, getting just two hits in the game, one each by Amanda Shaw (Yorba Linda, Calif.) and Valiante.
The team also lost to St. Peter's in a 7-2 decision. Brittany Loisel (Gilbert, Ariz.) had two hits in the game, whileKalka'sone hit drove in the team's only two runs against Peahen pitching.
The Scarlet Knights are back in action on Saturday, Oct. 7, when RU hosts the Rutgers Softball Fall Invitational. Rutgers will welcome Fairleigh Dickinson and Kutztown to the best-of-two invitational. The first game is schedule for a 9:30 a.m. start.
