Rutgers Softball Drops Home Doubleheader to Providence

Saturday, April 19

Piscataway, N.J.

Rutgers University

18-25, 3-10

Providence

19-18-2, 5-6

Providence

RUTGERS

Rutgers Softball Drops Home Doubleheader to Providence

Apr 19 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers softball team (18-26, 3-11 BIG EAST) lost a pair of games to BIG EAST foe Providence (20-18-2, 6-6 BIG EAST) on Saturday, April 19, at the RU Softball Complex. The Friars won game one 7-1 and game two 6-3.

In game one, Providence took an early lead with two runs in the first inning. Rutgers responded with a run in the bottom of the second, but it was not enough as the Friars extended their advantage to claim the 7-1 victory.

The Scarlet Knights earned their run with back-to-back singles from juniors Sarah Kalka (Moreno Valley, Calif.) and Kim Hodges (Houston, Texas), followed by an RBI-double down the right field line from freshman Mandy Craig (Manassas, Va.).

Providence went ahead at the start of game two with a run in the top of the first, but Rutgers came back from the one-run deficit, scoring three runs in the bottom of the frame.

Junior Amanda Shaw (Yorba Linda, Calif.) walked, while senior Mallory Miller (Anaheim, Calif.) singled through the left side to give RU a pair of runners on the bases. An error on the Providence third baseman during junior Kate Valiante's (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) at-bat allowed for Shaw to score and tie the game at 1-1. Craig then drove in the next two runs with a single to right field.

Providence cut into Rutgers' lead with a run in the fourth inning to make it 3-2 in the Scarlet Knights' favor. RU held the Friars scoreless through the next two innings, but four runs in the seventh shifted the lead as Providence picked up the 6-3 win.

Craig went 3-for-7 with three RBI on the afternoon.

The Scarlet Knights will close out their 2008 home schedule with a BIG EAST doubleheader against Connecticut on Sunday, April 20, at 12:00 p.m. Prior to the game, Rutgers will honor its four-member senior class in Miller, Shantai Dixon (Sayreville, N.J.), Ashley Hartley (Ripon, Calif.) and Christine Royland (Westwood, N.J.).