STILLWATER, Okla. (March 13, 2010) – The Rutgers softball team (7-12) won its way to the Oklahoma State Mizuno Classic Championship game by besting Wisconsin, 8-5, on Saturday, but could not beat host Oklahoma State, falling, 2-0, on Sunday March 14. Freshman Jennifer Harabedian (Flemington, N.J.) went 2-for-3 in the championship game, but the Scarlet Knights could not string together enough hits for the win.
Sophomore Holly Johnson (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) earned the nod Sunday, giving up two runs on five hits and four walks while fanning one in six innings.
Oklahoma State (20-6) scored a run in the bottom of the first as Katelyn Bright walked and Alysia Hamilton doubled to left center, bringing the left fielder home.
OSU notched another run in the third. Mariah Gearhart singled and stole second and Julie Ward brought her home on a single up the middle.
RU threatened in the fourth, as Brittany Lindley (Cicero, N.Y.) singled to right field to lead off the inning. The sophomore would advance to third on a single to second base by Harabedian. The rookie stole second, putting runners on second and third for freshman Kaci Madden (Saratoga, N.Y.), but the rookie flied out to center field.
In the sixth, RU loaded the bases on singles by sophomore Mikelyn Messina (Prospect, Conn.), junior Mandy Craig (Manassas, Va.) and Harabedian, but Kylee Bishop (Tacoma, Wash.) lined into a double play at third base to end the inning.
On Saturday against the Badgers (6-13), the Scarlet Knights got on the board early in the first inning. Ashley Bragg (Middletown, Del.) belted a lead-off double to centerfield. The rookie advanced to third on a passed ball and stole home to put RU on the board, 1-0.
Wisconsin would score five runs on five hits in the second inning to take a 5-1 lead. Back-to-back singles and a hit by a pitch loaded the bases for Jennifer Krueger, who tripled for 3 RBI.
Rutgers would not lose its composure, scoring one run in the top of the fifth and six in the top of the sixth inning.
In the sixth, junior Mickenzie Alden (Spokane, Wash.) reached on an error by the shortstop and sophomore Lindsey Curran (Monroe Twp., N.J.) singled through the left side to advance Alden to second. Bragg, Brittany Lindley and Messina all walked to score two runs. Craig doubled to leftfield, scoring three more. Bishop scored Craig on a single to right field.
Johnson earned the nod, going 1.1 innings and giving up four runs on three hits and one walk. Senior Nicole Lindley (Cicero, N.Y.) tallied her second win of the season, giving up one run on three hits in 5.2 innings, while striking out five.
Rutgers will be back in action Monday March 15, in Wichita, Kan., facing off against Wichita State.
