BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Rutgers softball team (7-9) opened play at the FAU Tournament on Friday, March 13, in Boca Raton, taking on Liberty and Bethune Cookman in a pair of games. The Scarlet Knights dropped their first game against Liberty 3-0, before defeating Bethune Cookman 4-1 in the second contest.

Errors in the Scarlet Knight infield played a major role in Rutgers’ opening day loss as three miscues in the third inning resulted in a pair of unearned runs for Liberty. The Flames added to their two-run lead in the top of the sixth with an RBI-single to center field, holding on for a 3-0 victory.

Freshman pitcher Noelle Sisco (Towaco, N.J.) earned her first collegiate start against Liberty.

The Scarlet Knights returned to the field in game two against Bethune Cookman and took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Sophomore Mickenzie Alden (Spokane, Wash.), RU’s leadoff hitter, was hit by a pitch and then stole second base, before scoring on a single to left field from senior Sarah Kalka (Monroe Valley, Calif.).

The Wildcats rallied in the bottom of the third with runners on first and second with one out. Bethune Cookman’s Simone Ceasar hit a ball to first base which sophomore Mandy Craig (Manassas, Va.) scooped up and fired over to third base to throw out the lead runner for the second out.

The next batter, Cesley Tafoya, singled to left field with the potential of driving in the would-be game-tying run, however, left fielder Amanda Heller (Belle Mead, N.J.) showed a strong arm from the outfield. Heller delivered a perfect strike, gunning down the runner trying to score from second as senior catcher Kim Hodges (Houston, Texas) applied the tag and Rutgers escaped the threat.

Rutgers widen its lead with a run in the sixth inning when Kalka singled through the left side, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Heller and later scored on an RBI single down the left field line from senior Carissa Conroy (Richmond, Va.).

Bethune Cookman closed that gap in the bottom of the inning as pitcher Allison Garcia doubled and eventually scored on an infield error by the Scarlet Knights to make it 2-1.

The Scarlet Knights tacked on two runs to pull ahead 4-1 in the top of the seventh inning as senior Amanda Shaw (Yorba Linda, Calif.) started off the frame with a single to left field. She later advanced to third on a single up the middle by Alden and scored on a bunt-single by freshman Brittney Lindley (Cicero, N.Y.). Lindley gave RU its next run as she moved to second on a ground-out in the next at-bat and came home on a single to right field by Heller.

Freshman Holly Johnson (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) pitched the final four outs of the game to pick up the save as senior pitcher Chrissy Yard (Hillsborough, N.J.) earned the win, her first of the season to move to 1-3.

Rutgers will return to the diamond on Saturday, March 14, for games against host Florida Atlantic at 6:00 p.m. and Purdue at 8:00 p.m.