Rutgers Softball Takes One of Two at Villanova

Wednesday, April 27

Villanova, Pa.

Rutgers

19-25, 0

Villanova

15-29-1, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Rutgers	0	0	0	2	0	2	0	4	6	1
Villanova	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	2	9	0

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

Apr 27 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Villanova, Pa. (April 27, 2011) – Rutgers softball (19-26, 7-9) split a doubleheader with Villanova (16-29-1, 3-15), winning game one 4-2 before falling 2-1 at the VU Softball Complex Wednesday. Junior Mikelyn Messina (Prospect, Conn.) went 3-for-6 on the day with two RBI and a run scored. 

Sophomore Abbey Houston (New Egypt, N.J.) toed the rubber for RU in game one, allowing two runs on nine scattered hits in a complete game effort. 

In a tough spot with the bases loaded and no outs in the third, Houston got Valerie Ortega to ground out into the circle, getting the force at home and completing the double play at first.

Loren Williams (Los Angeles, Calif.) started off the fourth with a bloop single in the infield and used her speed to take second base when the Wildcats weren’t paying attention. Senior Mandy Craig (Manassas, Va.) drove her home with a booming double to right center field, advancing to third on the throw. After a walk to junior Brittney Lindley (Cicero, N.Y.) put runners on first and third, Messina got the job done with a groundout to the shortstop, putting the Scarlet Knights up 2-0.

Villanova knotted the game in the bottom of the fifth, as Kristi Burlin smashed a two-RBI double down the right field line, scoring Amanda Marquez and Ortega who had reached with base hits.

Lindley smacked a deep two-out double to center field in the sixth inning. Messina tallied her second RBI of the game with a one-hopper to the left fielder for a double, scoring the game-winning run for RU. After a single by sophomore Kaci Madden (Saratoga, N.Y.), the Scarlet Knights added an insurance run on a double steal.

Freshman Megan Williams (Richmond, Va.) got the nod in game two, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while fanning two batters.

Loren Williams started the scoring with one swing of the bat, leading off with her first career home run over the left center fence to give RU an early 1-0 lead.

Villanova’s Molly Manning answered with a two-run home run in the home half of the frame, scoring Burlin who had walked.

Sophomore Ashley Bragg (Middletown, Del.) dropped a single in left center to lead off the seventh inning and classmate Jen Harabedian (Flemington, N.J.) moved the tying run to second with a sacrifice bunt, but RU could not get the run in, falling 2-1.   

The Scarlet Knights wrap up the regular season this weekend with a three-game series at Pittsburgh.