Rutgers Softball Downs Monmouth 8-3 In Midweek Action

Wednesday, April 16

West Long Branch, N.J.

Rutgers University

12-20-1

Monmouth

18-24

RUTGERS

Monmouth

Rutgers Softball Downs Monmouth 8-3 In Midweek Action

Apr 16 | Softball

Box Score

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Rutgers softball team (18-24) wrapped up its four-opponent road trip with an 8-3 victory at Monmouth (12-20-1) on Wednesday evening.

An RBI-groundout in the first inning gave the Hawks their one and only lead of the game as the Scarlet Knights tied the contest in the top of the second and took the lead for good in the third with a pair of runs.

In the second inning, freshman Mandy Craig (Manassas, Va.) earned a walk and eventually scored on back-to-back errors by Monmouth's first baseman to tie the game at 1-1.The Hawks nearly shifted the lead back in their favor in the bottom of the frame with runners on first and second, but the Scarlet Knights quickly ended their rally with a double play and an infield pop-up.

 Juniors Kate Valiante (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) and Sarah Kalka (Moreno Valley, Calif.) singled to start the third inning as the pair advanced another base on a sacrifice bunt from classmate Kim Hodges (Houston, Texas). Another Monmouth error, this time on the third baseman, allowed Valiante to score from third and gave RU the 2-1 advantage. Craig then hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to drive in Kalka (3-1).

The Scarlet Knights scored five more runs over the next three innings, including four in the sixth to balloon the lead to 8-1. Rutgers got its lone run in the fourth when junior Amanda Heller (Belle Mead, N.J.) singled, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on an RBI-single from Kalka.

Rutgers loaded the bases in the sixth with a walk to Heller, a single by Miller and a hit batter (Valiante). It marked the second hit by pitch of the game for Valiante and the 28th of her three-year Scarlet Knight career, topping the previous all-time RU record (27, Angie Catalano (98-99)).

Back-to-back singles by Kalka and Hodges drove in two runs, while sophomore pitcher Nicole Lindley (Cicero, N.Y.) plated the third with a sacrifice fly to center field. On the next play, the Scarlet Knights safely executed a double-steal for their fourth run of the inning.

Monmouth chipped away at RU's seven-run lead with a two-run triple in the bottom of the seventh but it was not enough as Lindley closed out the game and picked up the win (7-4). Lindley allowed two runs on four hits while striking out five.

The Scarlet Knights will return to the RU Softball Complex to close out their home schedule against BIG EAST foes Providence (April 19) and Connecticut (April 20). Both doubleheaders are scheduled for 12:00 p.m. starts.