Yard, Lindley Guide Rutgers Softball to Sweep Over Seton Hall

Sunday, April 27

South Orange, N.J.

Rutgers

21-30, 5-14

Seton Hall

20-32, 6-15

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
RUTGERS	0	0	0	1	0	4	0	5	5	1
Seton Hall	0	0	1	0	0	0	3	4	8	3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
RUTGERS	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	5	0
Seton Hall	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0

Yard, Lindley Guide Rutgers Softball to Sweep Over Seton Hall

Apr 27 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The Scarlet Knights received stellar performances from its two pitchers junior Chrissy Yard (Hillsborough, N.J.) and sophomore Nicole Lindley (Cicero, N.Y.) as the Rutgers softball team (22-30, 6-14 BIG EAST) swept instate rival Seton Hall (20-33, 6-16 BIG EAST) in a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at the Ivy Hill Park in South Orange. RU defeated the Pirates 5-4 in the first game and shutout SHU 1-0 in game two.

After two scoreless innings, Seton Hall took an early one-run advantage with a solo home run in the bottom of the third. The lead would be short lived however, as Rutgers tied things in the top of the fourth. Junior Amanda Heller (Belle Mead, N.J.) earned a walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Mallory Miller (Anaheim, Calif.) and later scored on an error by the Pirates' shortstop during junior Kim Hodges' (Houston, Texas) at-bat.

The Scarlet Knights kept Seton Hall on its heels in the top of the fifth inning thanks to two stellar defensive stops. Senior Shantai Dixon (Sayreville, N.J.) made a full extension to snag a line-drive above her head. The would-be hit by the leadoff hitter had the potential of giving SHU extra bases, but Dixon's terrific catch helped end the Pirates' rally. In the next at-bat, Lindley easily corralled a come-backer to the circle as she recorded the final out of the inning.

Rutgers erupted for its biggest production of the game with four runs in the top of the sixth to take over the lead as junior Amanda Shaw (Yorba Linda, Calif.) singled to start the inning, followed by Heller who reached safely on an error by the first baseman. Miller then singled to right field, driving in Shaw from second and another fielding error, this time by the second baseman, allowed junior Kate Valiante (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) to reach safely and load the bases for RU.

Hodges responded with a two-run double to right field, giving the Scarlet Knights the 5-1 lead.

The Pirates began the home half of the sixth with a leadoff single, but the Scarlet Knight infield would again flash the leather as they turned a 5-4-3 double play to erase the runners on the bases. Lindley then induced a groundout to end the inning and maintain the four-run lead.

The suspense level of the game rose to great heights in the bottom of the seventh when Seton Hall rallied to pull to within one run. The Pirates drove in a run with an RBI-single to left field and then added two more with a two-run double to right.

With two outs and facing a bases loaded situation after an intentional walk, Lindley got the final SHU batter to fly out to center field and secure the win. Lindley allowed just one earned run, while striking out four in seven innings of work as she picked up the win to improve to 8-7 on the season.

In game two, the Scarlet Knights took a one-run lead in the third and never looked back. Freshman Jen Meinheit (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) singled through the left side, followed by Shaw and Heller who singled and walked, respectively to load the bases. Miller then hit a shot to straight-away center, sending the SHU center fielder back to the warning track, as Meinheit tagged up and scored on the sacrifice fly ball.

The one-run lead was enough as Yard pitched an outstanding game, retiring the side in order in six of the seven innings. She allowed just two hits and struck out a pair to earn the complete game shutout victory.

Defense was the key on the afternoon for the Scarlet Knights who closed out the game with a 4-6-3 double play.

Rutgers will wrap up its BIG EAST regular-season schedule with a 2:30 p.m. doubleheader at Villanova on Tuesday, April 29.