Rutgers Softball Prepares for Final Regular Season Series
Apr 28 | Softball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (April 28, 2011) – The Rutgers softball team (19-26, 7-9) hits the road for its final three-game series of the season and will face Pittsburgh (28-14, 7-6) at Vartabedian Field over the weekend. Saturday’s doubleheader and Sunday’s finale will begin at noon.
The Scarlet Knights took one of two games from Villanova Wednesday, winning game one 4-2 before dropping game two, 2-1. Junior Mikelyn Messina (Prospect, Conn.) went 3-for-6 on the day with two RBI and a run scored.
On the season, junior Brittney Lindley (Cicero, N.Y.) leads the BIG EAST and ranks 15th overall in the NCAA with a .439 batting average. The third baseman paces the league in home runs (12), total bases (108), on-base percentage (.545) and slugging percentage (.818). The junior also ranks in the top five of the conference in hits (58), runs scored (45), RBI (45), doubles (14) and walks (26).
In the circle, sophomore Abbey Houston (New Egypt, N.J.) earned the win at Villanova Wednesday to notch her sixth victory of the year. The righty holds a team-best 5.28 ERA and has fanned 50 batters this season.
Leading the Panthers at the plate is Kelly Hmiel, who boasts a .367 batting average with 42 RBI. Pitching duties for Pitt have been split between Karlyn Jones, Alyssa O’Connell and Cory Berliner. Jones paces the Panthers with a 1.57 ERA, while O’Connell holds a team-best 11-3 record. At the helm of Pittsburgh is head coach Holly Aprile in her third season in the dugout. All-time Pitt holds a 13-11 advantage over RU, but the Scarlet Knights took two of three games last season to earn their first BIG EAST Tournament berth in 12 years.
