STILLWATER, Okla. (March 12, 2010) – The Rutgers softball team split day one of the Oklahoma State Mizuno Classic Friday, falling to Wisconsin, 6-2, in the first game and toppling Prairie View A&M, 12-2 in five innings, in the afternoon contest. RU moves to 6-11 on the season – winning six of the last nine contests.
Sophomore Mikelyn Messina (Prospect, Conn.) went 2-for-6 on the day with five RBI, two runs scored and a double. The utility player is slugging at a .513 clip, leading the team with 17 RBI in 2010.
Freshman Abbey Houston (New Egypt, N.J.) earned the nod in game two against the Panthers (0-12), working four innings, while giving up one run on five hits. Sophomore BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week Holly Johnson (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) came in for one inning of relief, allowing one run on one hit.
Rutgers started out strong with a four-run first inning. Sophomore Brittany Lindley (Cicero, N.Y.) hit a double down the left field line to score the first run of the day. Sophomore Kylee Bishop (Tacoma, Wash.) drove in two more with a single up the middle.
The Scarlet Knights would not let up, adding two more tallies. Junior Danielle Procopio (Vineland, N.J.) earned a single on a bunt and rookie Ashley Bragg (Middletown, Del.) drove her home with her first career triple. Brittany Lindley hit a sacrifice fly to score short stop and make the score 6-0.
RU tallied six more runs in the fourth, using four hits and one PVAMU error. With the bases loaded, Messina rocketed a double to center field to clear the base path and put the Scarlet Knights up 9-0. Freshmen Jennifer Harabedian (Flemington, N.J.) and Kaci Madden (Saratoga, N.Y.) hit a triple and a single, respectively, to score two more. Rutgers would end the game in the fifth inning due to the ten-run rule.
In game two against the Badgers (5-11), sophomore Noelle Sisco (Towaco, N.J.) toed the rubber, going three innings and giving up one run on four hits. Senior Nicole Lindley (Cicero, N.Y.) earned the loss, giving up five runs on three hits in 2.2 innings while striking out three.
The Scarlet Knights tied the game at one in the bottom of the fourth inning, as junior Jen Meinheit (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) singled to left field as a lead off. The center fielder stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Messina scored her with a single through the right side.
After giving up four runs on one hit and one error, in the top of the fifth, the Scarlet Knights were down 5-1. RU scored one run in the bottom of the inning, but it would not be enough. Bishop scored Harabedian on a single to center field.
RU is on the diamond again tomorrow for a 1:30 matchup with Oklahoma State.
