Softball Claims Inaugural B1G Series at IU

Sunday, March 22

Bloomington, Ind.

12:30 PM

Rutgers

12-8, 0

Indiana

10-22, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Rutgers	1	1	2	4	0	2	10	10	2
Indiana	2	0	0	0	4	0	6	4	4

Mar 22 | Softball

Box Score

March 22, 2015

Final Stats

BLOOMINGTON, IND. (March 22, 2015) - The Rutgers softball team recorded a 10-6 victory over Indiana on Sunday afternoon at the Andy Mohr Field to claim the series in its inaugural Big Ten matchup.

"We did a really good job with hitting once again. Eight runs in five innings is a tremendous job by our offense," said head coach Jay Nelson. "Our pitching is a work in progress as we need to eliminate the walks and hit batters, but I have all the confidence in the world that they are working their best to correct the challenges of the early season. We are going to turn it around."

The Scarlet Knights improve to an overall record of 12-8 and 2-1 in conference action, while the Hoosiers fall to 10-22 and 1-2 in league play.

Rutgers was led by freshman Rebecca Hall (Fairfax, Va.) with a 3-for-4 performance, registering three RBIs in the win. Junior Melanie Slowinski (Severn, Md.) followed with a 2-for-3 showing at the plate, including one home run, two RBIs and two runs.

Junior Dresden Maddox (Kennesaw, Ga.) earned the victory to move her record to 4-2 on the season, while sophomore Shayla Sweeney (Barrington, N.J.) registered the save.

With two outs in the top of the first, senior Jackie Bates (Lincroft, N.J.) drew a walk to keep the inning alive. Junior Jordan Whitley (Clayton, Del.) then knocked Bates in with a single up the middleto give RU a 1-0 lead.

Indiana responded with two runs of its own in the bottom half of the inning via one hit and one error to take the lead, 2-1. However, junior Dresden Maddox (Gennesaw, Ga.) struck out the final batter to end the frame.

After sophomore Carly Todd (Deptford, N.J.) registered a base hit, Liz Adams reached on an error to advance Todd to third. Classmate Bridget Carr (Pequannock, N.J.) knocked Todd in to tie the score, 2-2, in the top of the second.

Maddox backed up the offensive momentum with a 1-2-3 and out inning, striking out the last batter once again to keep the score even headed into the third.

Following two drawn walks from Bates and Whitley to open the third, Slowinski loaded the bases with a single through right center. Hall followed with an RBI single to score Bates and return the lead to Rutgers. Indiana tried to stump the Scarlet Knights with a pitching change, however, Todd executed a sacrifice fly to extend the RU advantage to 4-2.

With two outs, the Hoosiers loaded the bases in the bottom of the third, but Maddox sent Kassi Farmer down swinging to end the third consecutive inning with a strikeout.

The momentum continued for the Scarlet Knights as Carr registered a leadoff home run to extend the RU lead to 5-2. After Huang kept it rolling with a double, Howard reached base on an error to send Huang home and increaseRU's total.

IU sent its starter, Lora Olsen, back to the circle in another attempt to break up the rally. However, following a drawn walk from Slowinski to put a runner on first and second, Hall blasted RU's second double of the inning to bring in both runs. The Scarlet Knights ended their half of the fourth with an 8-2 advantage.

A grand slam from Hoosier Katelyn Conenna made it a two-run game in the bottom of the fifth, but Sweeney ended the inning by inducing a ground out.

Slowinski went on to register a two-run homer to cushion the lead at 10-6. The game was retired in the bottom of the sixth due the Scarlet Knight travel plans.

Rutgers returns to action with back-to-back midweek nonconference matchups. RU first travels to Monmouth on Tuesday, March 24 before heading to Hofstra for a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 25.

KNIGHT NOTES

Dresden Maddox recorded the victory to improve to a record of 4-2 on the year.
Shayla Sweeney recorded her first save of the season and second of her career.
A total of seven Scarlet Knights recorded hits in the victory.
Rebecca Hall recorded a career-high three hits, along with tying her career-best with three RBIs.
Slowinski recorded three home runs over the weekend, including a homer in each contest.
Bridget Carr registered her second home run of the season.
Carr also tied her career-high with two RBIs in the win.
Stephanie Huang extended her hit streak to 12 consecutive games.
Jackie Bates led the team with three runs in the win and tied her career-high with two walks.

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-