WACO, Texas  – Senior left fielder Amanda Heller (Belle Mead, N.J.) put Rutgers ahead in the first inning with her first home run of the season as the Scarlet Knights held on to defeat Louisiana-Monroe 4-3 in game one of the QTI Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 28, at Getterman Stadium on the campus of Baylor University. RU took on the host Lady Bears in its final game of the evening, falling by a score of 8-0.

In game one against ULM, Heller recorded the Scarlet Knights’ second home run in as many days with a two-run shot over the wall in right field. Sophomore Mickenzie Alden (Spokane, Wash.) earned a walk before Heller cleared the bases to give Rutgers a 2-0 lead.

Louisiana-Monroe closed the gap slightly, scoring a run in the bottom of the third to move within one (2-1).

The Scarlet Knights increased their lead with another run in the fifth inning on a pair of doubles from Heller and sophomore Mandy Craig (Manassas, Va.). Heller took two bases on a pitch hit down the right field line and Craig drove her in with a double to right-center, making it 3-1 on the scoreboard.

Louisiana-Monroe answered RU, tying the game at 3-3 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

However, Rutgers rallied in the top of the seventh to regain the lead, earning three walks to load the bases. Heller started off the inning with a base on balls, followed by Craig and senior Kim Hodges (Houston, Texas) who each walked in their respective at-bats.

RU then inserted pinch hitter Mikelyn Messina (Prospect, Conn.) and the freshman responded by driving home the go-ahead score with a walk, putting the Scarlet Knights on top 4-3. Junior pitcher Nicole Lindley (Cicero, N.Y.) returned to the circle in the bottom half of the inning to seal the victory, retiring the side in order for her first win of the season. Lindley (1-1) went the complete game, allowing three runs on five hits with five strikeouts.

Heller went 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs batted in and three runs scored while Craig finished 3-for-3 with a walk and one RBI against the Warhawks.

In the second game, Baylor scored a pair of runs in each of the first three innings before adding two more scores in the fifth to take the 8-0 victory.

The Scarlet Knights will close out play at the QTI Invitational on Sunday, March 1, with a 10:30 a.m. matchup against Louisiana Tech.