Craig Hits Grand Slam To Power Softball Sweep Over Marist

Tuesday, April 21

Piscataway, N.J.

Rutgers

14-29

Marist

17-29

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

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Marist	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3
RUTGERS	3	0	1	4	X	8	7	0

Craig Hits Grand Slam To Power Softball Sweep Over Marist

Apr 21 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

PISCATAWAY, N.J.  – Rutgers sophomore Mandy Craig (Manassas, Va.) drove in five runs, with her team-leading third home run of the season on a grand slam in game two of the Scarlet Knights’ doubleheader sweep over Marist (14-30) on Tuesday, April 21. RU (18-29) defeated the Red Foxes 3-1 in game one and earned a five-inning 8-0 victory in the nightcap.

Craig went 5-for-8 on the day with five RBI, one home run and a walk.

In game one, the Scarlet Knights forged ahead in the bottom of the third as freshman Mikelyn Messina (Prospect, Conn.) made the Red Foxes pay for a one-out walk. After stealing second, Messina moved to third on an Amanda Shaw (Yorba Linda, Calif.) groundout. Sophomore Jen Meinheit (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) drove in the first run of the game as the right fielder ripped a single up the middle to plate Messina.

After Marist tied the game at one in the top of the fifth, RU reclaimed its lead in the bottom half of the sixth. Senior Kim Hodges (Houston, Texas) drove in classmate Kate Valiante (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) and Craig as she ripped a two-out offering between the short stop and third baseman.

Marist would not go quietly in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs. Kate Malloy drove a 2-2 offering to the deepest part of the ballpark, but Shaw raced over to make the game clinching grab.

Freshman Holly Johnson (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) threw seven strong innings to record her fifth win of the season. Johnson gave up eight hits, but allowed no earned runs and struck out seven in the RU victory.

Rutgers took an early lead in game two, thanks to a pair of errors by Marist pitcher Megan Lamoureux which led to the Scarlet Knights’ score. Shaw reached base safely on the first miscue. She then stole second and Meinheit joined her on the bags after being hit by a pitch.

Shaw eventually scored on the second error of the inning during Amanda Heller’s (Belle Mead, N.J.) at-bat and back-to-back RBI-singles from Craig and Hodges brought in Meinheit and Heller for the early 3-0 lead.

The Scarlet Knights would add to their lead in the third as Craig went shopping at the gap with a single to right center. After the next two Scarlet Knights were retired, freshman Brittney Lindley (Cicero, N.Y.) hit the ball through the wickets of the Red Foxes’ first baseman to plate Craig and give Rutgers a 4-0 edge.

Rutgers would continue to stockpile runs in the fourth, plating four in the frame. Back-to-back hits from Meinheit and senior Sarah Kalka (Moreno Valley, Calif.) would sandwich a Heller walk to load the bases with only one out. Craig would waste little time driving in the runs as she took the second pitch of the at bat over the left field fence for a grand slam. The homer was Craig’s team-high third of the season.

Junior Nicole Lindley (Cicero, N.Y.) would close the door on the Red Foxes with a 1-2-3 fifth inning to complete the 8-0 Scarlet Knight victory. Lindley allowed only one hit while pitching five scoreless innings for her team-high 11th win of the season.

Rutgers will return to action on Thursday, April 23, for a non-conference doubleheader against Fairleigh Dickinson, starting at 3:00 p.m.