Softball Dominates UC-Santa Barabara, 12-1

Saturday, February 28

Fresno, Calif.

1:00 PM

Rutgers

4-4

UC Santa Barbara

4-14

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Rutgers	2	0	1	6	3	12	14	0
UC Santa Barbara	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	0

Feb 28 | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 28, 2015

Final Stats

FRESNO, CALIF. (Feb. 28, 2015) - Guided by 14 hits across five innings, the Rutgers softball team rolled over UC-Santa Barbara, 12-1, on Saturday morning at the Margie Wright Diamond.

Rutgers moves to an overall record of 4-4, along with a 2-1 mark in the Fresno State Louisville Slugger Bash. UCSB falls to a record of 4-14 on the season.

Senior right-hander Dresden Maddox (Kennesaw, Ga.) registered the win to improve to a record of 2-1 on the season.

The 14 hits from RU were the most since the team recorded 11 against UConn on April 27, 2014.
A total of seven different Scarlet Knights recorded at least one hit in the win, led by senior Chandler Howard (North Wilmington, Del.) and junior Jordan Whitley (Clayton, Del.) with three hits apiece. Senior Jackie Bates (Lincroft, N.J.) recorded the first home run of the season for RU, recording two hits in the win.

THE GAME
After Bates drew a walk, the Scarlet Knights quickly put two runs on the board with two back-to-back doubles from Whitley and junior Melanie Slowinski (Severn, Md.).

Santa Barbara would cut into the deficit with its lone run in the bottom of the first to set the score at 2-1.

After a stalemate in the second inning for both sides, Rutgers re-ignited its early momentum. Bates reached first on a fielder's choice and shortly after stole second base. Whitley registered her second double of the day to send Bates home, extending RU's lead to 3-1 at the top of the third.

Dresden Maddox and the defense returned to record a speedy 1-2-3 and out inning.

The momentum heated up Rutgers in the top of the fourth. Despite the first two Scarlet Knight batters retiring at the plate, sophomore Carly Todd (Deptford, N.J.) and Stephanie Huang (Paramus, N.J.) drew back-to-back walks to reach base. Howard came up to bat next, blasting a double to left center to drive both runners in.

The burst didn't end there as Bates registered a double of her own to send Howard home. Following a pitching change for Santa Barbara with Rutgers up 6-1, Whitley joined the rally with an RBI single to score Bates. Slowinski would then record a triple for the first time in her career to bring in Whitley, expanding the Scarlet Knight lead to 8-1.

Although a rain delay halted play, it did not stump RU. Freshman Sierra Maddox (Kennesaw, Ga.) came up to bat, recording her first career RBI single to bring Slowinksi home. Overall, Rutgers ended its half of the inning with six runs on six hits to establish a 9-1 lead.

With a runner on first and second, Jackie Bates blasted RU's first home run of the season over the center field fence to bring in three runs. The game would end in the fifth inning as Rutgers claimed the victory 12-1.

Due to the rain delay, Rutgers second game of the day against Saint Mary's has been postponed until 10:30 p.m. ET.

KNIGHT NOTES

Rutgers 12 runs were the second most runs scored since the April 23, 2014, when RU had 13 Scarlet Knights cross the plate against Saint John's.
A total of seven Scarlet Knights recorded hit in the victory, in which four registered at least one double.
Jackie Bates recorded her first home run of the season to bring her career total to 19 home runs. The senior needs one more to tie for third all-time in the career record books.
Bates also recorded her first stolen base of the season.
Chandler Howard extended her hit streak to eight consecutive games, recording at least one in all games to date. Howard registered two singles and a double in today's win.
Melanie Slowinski recorded the first triple of her career, along with a double and two RBIs.
Whitley recorded a season-high and team-high two doubles, going 3-for-3 and recording three RBIs on the day.
Sierra Maddox made her first career start as a Scarlet Knight, going 2-for-3 with the first hits of her career. Maddox also recorded her first RBI in the win.
Rebecca Hall recorded the first double of her career.

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-