Rutgers Softball Sweeps Day Two of Under Armour Showcase

Saturday, March 15

Clearwater, Fla.

Rutgers University

6-9

Indiana

4-16

RUTGERS

Indiana

Rutgers Softball Sweeps Day Two of Under Armour Showcase

Mar 15 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Rutgers softball team (8-9) utilized a pair of steady pitching performances to sweep Indiana and Florida International on the second day of competition at the USF Under Armour Showcase on Saturday, March 15. The Scarlet Knights resumed play against the Hoosiers in a game which was postponed the previous day due to rain and defeated IU 6-4. RU completed the day with a 4-3 extra-inning victory over FIU in the afternoon cap.

Rutgers began the game against Indiana in the top of the first with a 1-0 lead and bases loaded with two outs. The Hoosiers induced a groundout to end the inning, however, the Scarlet Knights responded by adding another score in second to take a 2-0 lead. Junior Brittany Loisel (Gilbert, Ariz.) was hit by a pitch to start things off and was later driven in on an RBI-sacrifice fly to right field by senior Mallory Miller (Anaheim, Calif.).

Indiana inched closer (2-1) with a solo home run in the bottom of the second by Brittany Devitt.

The Scarlet Knights pulled away for their biggest lead of the game (5-1) with three runs on three hits in the third inning. Junior Sarah Kalka (Moreno Valley, Calif.) initiated the rally with a double down the right field line and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Classmate Kim Hodges (Houston, Texas) then drove in Kalka with a sacrifice fly to right field.

Rutgers received its next two runs on an RBI-double down the left field line from Loisel and an RBI-single from junior Amanda Shaw (Yorba Linda, Calif.). Loisel plated junior Amanda Heller (Belle Mead, N.J.) who earned a walk in her at-bat, while Shaw drove in junior Kate Valiante (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) who was hit by a pitch.

In the bottom of the third inning, IU attempted to execute a double steal with runners on first and third, but RU foiled those plans to end the scoring threat and the inning. Hodges made a throw to Kalka at second base to cut off the runner on first, but Kalka quickly fired the ball back to the plate as Hodges applied the tag at home.

IU scored three runs in the fourth to pull within one (5-4). In the fifth, the Hoosiers threatened to take over the lead with runners on second and third and just one out, but the Scarlet Knights came out of the inning unfazed thanks to solid pitching. Sophomore pitcher Nicole Lindley (Cicero, N.Y.), who entered the game in relief in the third, worked her way out of the jam with two consecutive groundouts.

RU added an insurance run in the top of the sixth for the 6-4 victory, as Lindley picked up the win to improve to 3-0 on the season. Lindley went 3.2 innings allowing just three hits and zero runs.

In game two against Florida International, Rutgers fell behind early as a result of a pair of infield errors. The Golden Panthers went up 2-0 in the first inning and tacked on another score in the third to go ahead 3-0.

The Scarlet Knights erupted with three runs in the fourth inning to tie the game at 3-3. Rutgers loaded the bases with a single from Kalka and walks to Miller and Hodges. In the next at-bat, RU capitalized on a miscue by the FIU infield as Heller reached first safely on an error by the first baseman. The error allowed Miller and Hodges to score while Valiante drove in the third run of the inning with an RBI-groundout.

The contest remained tied through regulation and extra innings were needed to make the final decision. Freshman Katye Hamlin (College Station, Texas) came in the game in the first inning and pitched well throughout especially in the final two innings. She faced 33 batters, allowed five hits and struck out three.

In the bottom of the seventh, Hamlin retired the first two hitters, but the inning was prolonged by an infield error. Despite having the tying and go-ahead runs on base, Hamlin got the next batter to fly-out to right field and end the inning.

Rutgers plated the winning run in the eighth on an RBI-groundout from Miller. Shaw started the inning on second (tie breaker rule) and advanced to third on a sac bunt by freshman Mandy Craig (Manassas, Va.). Miller then grounded to the shortstop, allowing Shaw to score and take the 4-3 lead.

In the eighth, Hamlin closed the door on any chance of a comeback by Florida International. She struck out the first hitter of the inning and forced two batters to pop-up to the infield as Rutgers earned the 4-3 extra inning victory. Hamlin improved her season record to 4-4 with the win.

Rutgers will next be in action on Sunday, March 16, for the final day of the showcase. The Scarlet Knights will take on UMass at 2:00 p.m.