Lindley's Arm Propels Rutgers Softball To Split With Villanova

Tuesday, April 29

Villanova, Pa.

Rutgers

23-30, 7-14

Villanova

18-29-1, 6-15

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
RUTGERS	0	0	1	0	1	0	4	6	9	0
Villanova	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	4	3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
RUTGERS	0	1	0	0	3	0	0	4	7	1
Villanova	2	0	2	3	1	3	X	11	14	0

Lindley's Arm Propels Rutgers Softball To Split With Villanova

Apr 29 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Sophomore Nicole Lindley (Cicero, N.Y.) pitched effectively, earning the game one victory as the Rutgers softball team (23-31, 7-15 BIG EAST) split its BIG EAST doubleheader with Villanova (19-29-1, 7-15 BIG EAST) on Tuesday afternoon. The Scarlet Knights won the opening game 6-1, but fell in game two 11-4.

RU took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when junior Amanda Heller (Belle Mead, N.J.) hit a fly ball to left field which was misplayed and allowed her to advance to second base. The error proved costly for the Wildcats as senior Mallory Miller (Anaheim, Calif.) followed with an RBI-double to left-center field to plate Heller.

After allowing just one hit to Villanova's leadoff hitter in the first inning, Lindley continued to cruise as she retired 12 straight batters to keep the Wildcats scoreless through the first four innings. Lindley struck out three batters and induced nine groundouts during the span to hold the VU bats at bay.

Rutgers tacked on another score in the fifth with a leadoff single by Heller, followed by an RBI-double from junior Sarah Kalka (Moreno Valley, Calif.) to increase its advantage to 2-0.

Villanova threatened in the bottom of the fifth with a pair of singles. However two strikeouts from Lindley and a groundout got the Scarlet Knights out of the inning and preserved the two-run lead.

In the sixth inning, the Wildcats pulled to within one run with a leadoff double by Danielle Maricle. Maricle then advanced to third on ground ball in the next at-bat and scored two batters later on another groundout to make it 2-1.

The Scarlet Knights added four insurance runs in the top of the seventh to secure the 6-1 victory. Miller singled, Kalka walked and an error by the Wildcats' pitcher during junior Kate Valiante's (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) at-bat loaded the bases for the Scarlet Knights with no outs recorded.

Junior Kim Hodges (Houston, Texas) then singled down the left-field line driving in both Miller and Kalka as an error in the outfield let another run cross the plate. A wayward throw from left field gave the Scarlet Knights their third run as freshman Mickenzie Alden (Spokane, Wash.), who replaced Valiante on the bases, scored when the throw found its way into the Rutgers dugout.

With runners on first and third following a walk to freshman Mandy Craig (Manassas, Va.), RU scored its fourth run of the inning when senior Shantai Dixon (Sayreville, N.J.) executed a squeeze bunt to drive in Hodges from third base.

Villanova put a runner on base in the bottom of the seventh, but the Scarlet Knights recorded the final three outs as Lindley picked up the win to improve to 9-7 on the season. She allowed just four hits and one run in the game, while striking out five batters.

In game two, the Wildcats took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a two-run home run, however, the Scarlet Knights responded in the top of the next frame with a solo home run to right field by Valiante to cut Villanova's advantage to 2-1. The home run tied Valiante and Kalka for the team lead with four.

The Wildcats extended their lead with another two-run home run in the bottom of the third to make it 4-1. In the fourth inning, Villanova pulled ahead for its largest lead with three runs (7-1). A pair of walks and three singles in the inning allowed the Wildcats to put a little distance between themselves and the Scarlet Knights.

Rutgers added a score in the top of the fifth as Villanova pitcher Kat Walsh entered the game to walk the first batter, hit the second with a pitch and load the bases with another walk. She then proceeded to hit another batter (Hodges) which drove in a run for RU to make the score 7-2.

With the bases still loaded, Craig hit a single to left field driving in Miller from third, while Loisel followed with a walk to plate another score for the Scarlet Knights, cutting the deficit to three runs (7-4).

The Scarlet Knights found themselves in another jam in the fifth inning as a bases loaded walk plated another run for the Wildcats who took an 8-4 lead. Villanova then added three more runs in the sixth to come away with the 11-4 victory.

Rutgers will close out the 2008 season with a 7:00 p.m. contest at Long Island University on Thursday, May 1.