PISCATAWAY, NJ - Timely hits by several Scarlet Knights in game two helped guide Rutgers softball (7-26) to a split in its twinbill against Army on Thursday, April 6, at the RU Softball Complex. Army took game one with a score of 10-6, but Rutgers bounced back in game two, earning an 8-7 victory.

Unfortunately for the Scarlet Knights a few misplayed balls in the infield led to Army taking an early lead, as the Black Knights scored five runs in the opening half of the first inning in game one.

Freshman Sarah Kalka (Moreno Valley, CA) led off the second inning with a single down the left-field line and was driven home two batters later when sophomore Mallory Miller (Anaheim, CA) hit an RBI double to left field, cutting the lead to 5-1.

Army built upon its lead (6-1) in the third when Sarah Yates delivered another run for the Black Knights with a double to left, driving in Kelly Trout, who also doubled in her at-bat. Army added one more score in the fifth on Nikki Posey’s home run to left-center field to extend its advantage to six runs (7-1).

The Scarlet Knights bounced back in the bottom half of the inning with a four-run rally, including a pair of home runs. Freshman Brittany Loisel (Gilbert, AZ) reached first base on a fielder’s choice to the shortstop and eventually came home on a two-run shot over the fence in right-center from freshman Amanda Shaw (Yorba Linda, CA). Shaw’s home run was the first of her collegiate career.

In the next at-bat, junior Kristin Madoch (Glenview, IL) hit a double to center field after which freshman Kaitlyn Valiante (Mt. Laurel, NJ) followed with her third long-ball of the season, a bomb to straight-away center, cutting Army’s lead to 7-5.

The Black Knights drove in two more runs in the sixth to widen their gap to four (9-5), before Rutgers would add another score in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman Amanda Heller (Belle Mead, NJ) earned a walk and was replaced on the bases by sophomore Xaymara Rodriguez (Paterson, NJ), who was eventually plated from first on Loisel’s RBI double to center field to make the score 9-6. Army would put one more run on the scoreboard in the seventh before claiming the 10-6 victory.

Rutgers struck first in game two, scoring one run in the home-half of the inning when Loisel hit a leadoff single up the middle, followed by Valiante, who smacked an RBI single through the right side. The Scarlet Knights tacked on another run (2-0) in the second inning when Rodriguez poked a double over the center-fielder’s head, driving in Miller, who reached base on an error at second base.

Army took over the lead in the third inning with the help of a six-run outburst, but the Scarlet Knights would make things close again in the bottom of the inning with a three-run rally of their own. After a single to left field from Madoch, Valiante followed with a walk to put runners on first and second for RU. Kalka then stepped to the plate and crushed a pitch out of the ballpark for her team-leading fourth home run of the season, bringing Rutgers two within just one run (6-5).

The Black Knights scored once more in the fourth when Lindsey Gerheim, who singled through the left side and advanced to third on another single, was plated on a wild pitch. With the sun setting and darkness sure to bring the game to an early end, the Scarlet Knights made their final push in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs to secure the eventual 8-7 win.

Miller recorded an infield single to third base and was driven home on sophomore Christine Royland’s (Westwood, NJ) double down the left-field line to make the score 8-6. With two outs and the tying run on second, Rodriguez made what would be the deciding play, as she slapped an RBI singled up the middle, plating Royland to tie the game (7-7). Rodriguez then made a break for second on the throw home and Army catcher Jamie Gjurgevich’s attempt to throw her out went wide of the infield, squirting into the outfield allowing Rodriguez to score the game-winning run (8-7) from second.

Army threatened in the top of the sixth, but a solid pitching performance from freshman Christina Yard (Hillsborough, NJ) helped quell any thoughts of a comeback for the Black Knights. Army earned a leadoff walk and eventually loaded the bases with zero outs recorded, but Yard regained control to register the final three outs and give Rutgers the win, as the game was called due to darkness in the sixth. Yard went 2.2 innings allowing zero runs and one hit, while striking out three batters.

Rutgers will next be on the road for a pair of doubleheaders against BIG EAST opponents Seton Hall and St. John’s. The Scarlet Knights will take on the Pirates on Saturday, April 8, at 12:00 pm, before going up against the Red Storm on Sunday, April 9, at noon.