Rutgers Softball Splits With Pittsburgh In Conference Action

Saturday, May 2

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Rutgers

21-31, 4-17

Pittsburgh

24-22, 8-13

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

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
RUTGERS	3	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	6	11	1
Pittsburgh	0	0	0	0	1	0	4	0	5	6	1

Rutgers Softball Splits With Pittsburgh In Conference Action

May 02 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

PITTSBURGH, Pa.  – The Rutgers softball team (22-32, 5-17 BIG EAST) dropped game one to Pittsburgh (24-23, 8-14 BIG EAST) before bouncing back with a victory in game two, earning a BIG EAST split on Saturday, May 2, at Trees Field. The Scarlet Knights fell in the opener 3-0 and responded with a 6-5 win in the nightcap.

Errors in the fourth inning of game one proved costly for the Scarlet Knights as Pittsburgh broke open a scoreless tie with two runs to take a 2-0 lead. The Panthers added another run in fifth at the hands of another Rutgers miscue, extending their advantage to 3-0.

The Scarlet Knights edged Pitt in hits 7-5, but did not manage to drive in the necessary runs as the Panthers held on for the 3-0 win.

Rutgers jumped out to an early lead in the first inning of game two as senior Amanda Shaw (Yorba Linda, Calif.) and sophomore Jen Meinheit (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) opened the contest with back-to-back singles and senior Sarah Kalka (Moreno Valley, Calif.) earned a walk to load the bases.

Sophomore Mandy Craig (Manassas, Va.), freshman Brittney Lindley (Cicero, N.Y.) and senior Amanda Heller (Belle Mead, N.J.) helped to the Scarlet Knights to their three-run advantage with three-straight RBI-singles.

RU tacked on another run in the fifth with a solo home run to center field for senior Kate Valiante (Mt. Laurel, N.J.). Pittsburgh cut into the four-run lead with a score in the bottom of the inning to make it 4-1 in Rutgers’ favor.

The Scarlet Knights extended their advantage back to four (5-1) with a run scoring double in the sixth inning. Heller, who reached on an error by the Pitt second baseman, was lifted for pinch runner Lindsay Curran (Monroe Twp., N.J.). Curran proceeded to steal second base, before scoring on a double to right-center from senior Kim Hodges (Houston, Texas).

The Panthers put a scare in Rutgers in the bottom of the seventh, tying the game with four runs to send the contest into extra innings.

In the top of the seventh, the Scarlet Knights posted what would be the game-winning run as Lindley took a base on balls to start the rally. She then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Heller and went to third on a groundball. Sophomore Mickenzie Alden (Spokane, Wash.) delivered the defining run with an RBI-single to centerfield as RU pulled ahead 6-5.

Freshman Holly Johnson (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) picked up the win (8-8) in game two as she kept Pitt off the scoreboard for the final 1.2 innings.

Rutgers will return to the diamond for its regular-season finale on Sunday, May 3, against Syracuse. The doubleheader is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.