Softball Splits Day One at the Gaucho Classic

Friday, February 13

Santa Barbara, Calif.

11:30 AM

Rutgers

0-1

UC Santa Barbara

3-3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Rutgers	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	3	5	1
UC Santa Barbara	0	0	0	2	3	0	X	5	12	0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Rutgers	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	5	0
St. Mary's CA	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	8	0

Feb 13 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Feb. 13, 2015

Final Stats

SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. (Feb. 13, 2015) - Opening its 2015 slate, the Rutgers softball team split day one of the Guacho Classic falling to host Santa Barbara, 5-3, while defeating Saint Mary's (Calif.), 3-2.

The Scarlet Knights move to a record of 1-1, while the Guachos improve to 3-3 and the Gaels fall to 1-4.

GAME ONE: RUTGERS AT SANTA BARBARA - BOX SCORE
Despite an early 3-0 lead for Rutgers, Santa Barbara found a late rally to claim the victory, 5-3.

Rutgers came out firing in its season opener against Santa Barbara. Senior Chandler Howard (North Wilmington, Del.)picked up right where she left off in 2014, reaching base on a double in her first at bat. Next up, classmate Jackie Bates (Lincroft, N.J.) reached base on a fielder's choice as junior Melanie Slowinski (Severn, Md.) came up to the plate. Slowinski singled to right field sending Howard home and advancing Bates to third. As Slowinski was caught stealing, Bates crossed the plate to put RU up 2-0 to start the first inning.

Senior Alyssa Landrith (Vacaville, Calif.) kept RU's lead strong across the next innings of play. In the bottom of the second, it was 1-2-3 and out for Landrith. The first batter flied out to right field, followed by a strike out from Landrith. The final hitter grounded out to first to end the inning. Landrith's momentum continued as she retired two hitters in scoring position at the bottom of the third.

Coming up to the plate for just the second time as a Scarlet Knight, freshman Rebecca Hall (Fairfax, Va.) recorded the first RBI of her career, sending in Slowinski and expanding the Scarlet Knights' lead to 3-0.

Santa Barbara found a spark in the fourth inning. With five hits and an RBI, Gauchos scored two runs to cut their deficit to 5-2. Senior Jenessa Jeppesen batted in sophomore Stacy Cavazos to put UCSB on the board, followed by a score from senior DeJanee Moore. The rally continued in UCSB's next at bat. The Gauchos added on three more runs on four hits and two RBIs, taking the lead, 5-3, in the bottom of the fifth.

Slowinski came out with a single to start the sixth, but it was not enough to restart the RU offense. The Gauchos took the win 5-3.

GAME TWO: RUTGERS VS. SAINT MARY'S - BOX SCORE
Rutgers maintained its strength to earn its first victory of 2015 with a 3-2 win over Saint Mary's.

Despite a stalemate in the opening inning, RU came alive at the top of the second. After SMC pitcher Katie Moss walked juniorJordan Whitley (Clayton, Del.) and Slowinski, junior Liz Adams (Crystal Lake, Ill.) registered a single to load the bases. Next up, Bridget Carr nailed a single of her own to first base, sending Whitley and Slowinski home. Adams would score shortly after on Carr's attempt at stealing second, establishing a 3-0 lead.

At the bottom of the third, junior Dresden Maddox (Kennesaw, Ga.) sent Fitzpatrick down swinging to deny two runs from scoring. Maddox recorded a career-high eight strikeouts in seven innings pitched.

After holding off the Gaels for six innings, the stakes were raised for RU in the seventh. Freshman Hailey Sparacino reached first on a walk junior Andrea Hazel doubled to left center to send in Sparacino for SMC's first score of the day. Up to the plate next, junior Loralie Fitzpatrick added on a hit to advance Hazel to third. Classmate Monica Reichardt followed with a single of her own to knock in Hazel. With the tying run in scoring position, Maddox would strike out the Gaels' final batter to seal the victory for RU.

The Scarlet Knights return to action in day two of the Gaucho Classic with rematches against Santa Barbara at 11:30 a.m. ET, followed by Saint Mary's at 1:30 p.m. ET.

KNIGHT NOTES

Rutgers opens the season 1-1 for the second consecutive season.
Dresden Maddox recorded a career-high eight strike outs in the win over SMC, while tying her career-high innings pitched at 7.0.
Bridget Carr recorded the first two RBIs of her career in the game against Saint Mary's.
Becca Hall made her first collegiate starts as a Scarlet Knight. The freshman recorded her first career RBI in her second at bat in the game against Santa Barbara.

Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers softball, follow the program on Twitter (@RUSoftball) and Instagram (@RU_Softball). The team is also on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersSB).

- RU-