Rutgers Softball Enjoys Solid Day At Plate, Sweeps Fairleigh Dickinson

Thursday, April 23

Piscataway, N.J.

Rutgers

19-29

Fairleigh Dickinson

9-32

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

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Fairleigh Dickinson	1	0	2	0	0	3	8	3
RUTGERS	2	2	2	3	2	11	14	1

Rutgers Softball Enjoys Solid Day At Plate, Sweeps Fairleigh Dickinson

Apr 23 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers softball team (20-29) received several steady performances at the plate, en route to a sweep of Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday, April 23, at the RU Softball Complex. The Scarlet Knights combined for 15 runs in two games, including three home runs to defeat the Knights 4-3 in game one and 11-3 in game two.

Fairleigh Dickinson took the early 1-0 advantage in the top of the second, but a Sarah Kalka (Moreno Valley, Calif.) blast to dead center field would tie the game at one. The homer was Kalka’s third of the season.

The Scarlet Knights would take their first lead of the game in the third. The first two base runners of the inning would reach, capped by a single from sophomore Mickenzie Alden (Spokane, Wash.). A bunt single from classmate Jen Meinheit (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) would load the bases and Alden would score as the next batter, Amanda Heller (Belle Mead, N.J.), hit a sacrifice fly to center field to give RU the 2-1 lead.

FDU would retake the lead in the fourth, as pitcher Trina Fields hit a two-run home run to give the Knights a 3-2 edge. In the circle, Fields continued to pitch well, holding RU scoreless the next three innings.

Rutgers would get to Fields though in the final inning. The first two Scarlet Knights reached base as senior Kim Hodges (Houston, Texas) walked and Alden drove a single up the middle. After Hodges was lifted for pinch-runner Lindsey Curran (Monroe Twp., N.J.), Amanda Shaw (Yorba Linda, Calif.) singled and Curran scored on a fielding error by the FDU center fielder. With the score tied at three, Meinheit would seal the Scarlet Knights’ come-from-behind victory by dropping a single in front of the FDU left fielder, plating Alden.

Freshman Holly Johnson (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) pitched a complete game, giving up three earned runs and striking out seven to improve her record to 6-6 on the year.

In game two, Rutgers would once again fall behind early before responding. After FDU plated a run in the top of the first, the Scarlet Knights answered with two in the bottom half. Meinheit singled and eventually scored on a passed ball, while Heller, who reached on a fielder’s choice, scored on a Mandy Craig (Manassas, Va.) RBI-single to give RU a 2-1 lead.

Rutgers would also plate two runs in the second as Kate Valiante (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) singled and eventually scored on an FDU throwing error and Hodges walked and later scored on a Shaw sacrifice bunt.

FDU would score two runs in the top of the third to cut the Rutgers lead to 4-3, but the Knights would get no closer. The Scarlet Knights extended their lead in the bottom of the third as Valiante smacked a two-run home run, her second of the season. In the fourth, RU plated three as Heller had an RBI single and Craig hit a two-run homerun to center field to give the Scarlet Knights a 9-3 lead.

It was Craig’s team-leading fourth long ball of the season and her second in three games, after delivering a grand slam in Rutgers’ game-two win over Marist Tuesday.

With a six-run cushion, the Scarlet Knights ballooned their lead to eight runs, securing the five-inning run-rule victory in the bottom of the fifth.

Facing two outs, Rutgers rallied in the home half of the fifth as Shaw singled and Meinheit reached base on an error by the FDU second baseman. Heller then stepped to the plate and drove in the pair with a double down the left-field line to push RU ahead 11-3 and pick up the win.

With the victory, junior Nicole Lindley (Cicero, N.Y.) moved to 12-11 on the season.

The Scarlet Knights will return to BIG EAST action on Sunday, April 26, for a 12:00 p.m. doubleheader against instate rival Seton Hall at the RU Softball Complex.