PRINCETON, N.J. (March 27, 2010) – Rutgers softball (12-15) won two games at Princeton (6-14) on Saturday, March 27 at the Class of 1895 Field. The Scarlet Knights upended the Tigers, 9-4, in game one, and needed nine innings to defeat Princeton, 4-3 in game two. Junior Mandy Craig (Manassas, Va.) drove in the game-winning run in game two with a deep double to center.
Sophomore Noelle Sisco (Towaco, N.J.) earned the nod in game two, going seven innings and allowing three runs on nine hits. Senior Nicole Lindley (Cicero, N.Y.) came in for relief, allowing one hit in two innings.
Junior Mickenzie Alden (Spokane, Wash.) started it off in game two, leading off the third inning with a single up the middle. Sophomore Lindsey Curran (Monroe Twp., N.J.) showed bunt and slapped the ball to third, who looked the Alden back and did not throw to first, putting runners at first and second. Sophomore Mikelyn Messina (Prospect, Conn.) brought the run in with a deep double to center field. Craig gave the Scarlet Knights a 2-1 lead, dropping the ball just fair in left.
RU added to its score in the fifth, as Messina singled through the right side. Junior Jen Meinheit (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) laid down a bunt to the third baseman, who looked at second and was late with the throw to first, as Meinheit used her speed to get on first. Sophomore Brittany Lindley (Cicero, N.Y.) walked to load the bases and with two outs, Jennifer Harabedian (Flemington, N.J.) walked a run in to make the score 3-1.
Princeton tied it in the bottom of the seventh inning, with one run on one hit and one error, driving the game into extra innings with a sacrifice fly to center by Kelsey Quist.
Meinheit walked to start the ninth and stole second with two outs. Craig stepped to the plate and drove the ball to center field for a double, driving in the game-winning run.
Sophomore Holly Johnson (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) earned the nod and the win in game one, giving up four runs on six hits in seven innings of work.
The Scarlet Knights got on the board in the second as freshman Ashley Bragg (Middletown, Del.) waited on a change and pushed the ball through the right side for a double. Harabedian got on with smart base running by Bragg, who forced the Princeton shortstop to look her back to second. With two outs, Curran smashed the ball to deep left for a two RBI double, getting RU on the board, 2-0.
Rutgers was not finished, as Messina walked to put runners on first and second. Meinheit sent a rocket to the shortstop, and Curran avoided a tag to load the bases. Brittney Lindley delivered in the clutch, hitting a frozen rope to center field for a double and two RBI, putting the Scarlet Knights up, 4-0.
RU added one to the total in the third, as Alden lined the ball down the right field line, scoring Harabedian who had reached on an error by Princeton’s third baseman.
Brittany Lindley sent a rocket over the fence in right center, putting Rutgers up 6-1 in the top of the fourth. Messina sent one out of the park in the fifth, adding two more to the score. It was the sophomore’s seventh of the season and third in two games.
Princeton’s Sarah Rounsifer homered twice in game one and Nicole Ontiveros added a long ball in the seventh, accounting for all of the Tigers’ RBI.
Rutgers heads to Long Island University for a Tuesday doubleheader on March 30. Action starts at 4:30 p.m.
