Rutgers
5-6
New Mexico
11-8
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 0 |
| New Mexico | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | X | 10 | 9 | 1 |
Softball Opens Lobo Classic, 1-1
Mar 07 | Softball
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Mar. 7, 2014) - Opening its weekend at the Lobo Classic, the Rutgers softball team split its day, defeating CSU Bakersfield, 9-4, and falling to host New Mexico, 10-5, on Saturday at the Lobo Softball Field.
The Scarlet Knights move to an overall record of 5-6, while the Roadrunners fall to 7-11 and the Lobos improve to 11-8.
GAME ONE - BOX SCORE
Highlighted by a six-run showing in the fourth inning, Rutgers downed CSU Bakersfield, 9-4, to open the day.
Both teams got off to a slow start as RU and CSUB each went scoreless in the first and second innings.
In the top of the third, a triple from Selena Gonzalez put the `Runners on the board first. However, sophomore Shayla Sweeney (Barrington, N.J.) and the defense would retire the following two batters at the plate.
Leading off the second half of the inning for the Scarlet Knights, senior Jackie Bates (Lincroft, N.J.) singled through the left side. Bates then advanced to third base via two consecutive wild pitches. Junior Jordan Whitley (Clayton, Del.) brought Bates home with a single of her own to tie the score, 1-1. Whitley didn't stop there, advancing to second on a wild pitch and shortly after stealing home to put RU in front, 2-1.
CSU Bakersfield tacked on three runs in the top of the fourth to reclaim the lead, 4-2, but Rutgers countered with six runs on three hits to establish an 8-4 advantage in the bottom half of the inning.
Bates kicked off the rally, registering her second home run of the season to bring in two runs. With the bases loaded, junior Stephanie Huang (Paramus, N.J.) was hit by a pitch, sending junior Melanie Slowinski (Severn, Md.) home. Up next, junior Elizabeth Adams (Crystal Lake, Ill.) brought in freshmen Rebecca Hall (Fairfax, Va.) and Sierra Maddox (Kennesaw, Ga.) on a single to left field. Sophomore Carly Todd (Deptford, N.J.) kept the momentum rolling with an RBI single of her own to send Huang, setting the score at 8-4.
CSUB attempted to cut into the deficit at the start of the fifth, however, Sweeney struck out the final batter to send the RU offense back to the plate.
The Scarlet Knights tacked on one final run via a double from Hall to bring their advantage to 9-1. Sweeney and the defense held off the `Runners the rest of the way to seal the victory in the top of the seventh.
Sweeney (1-1) recorded the 10th win of her career, while Lyndsey Klimenko (1-2) faced the loss.
GAME TWO - BOX SCORE
Despite establishing a 5-1 lead by the top of the fourth, Rutgers would go on to drop a 10-5 decision to New Mexico.
After a scoreless first inning for either side, Huang put RU on the board in the top of the second. Slowinski would then extend the Scarlet Knight lead, 2-0, in the following inning.
Senior lefty Alyssa Landrith (Vacaville, Calif.) registered back-to-back 1-2-3 and out innings in both the first and second before New Mexico found its first hit in the bottom of the third.
Landrith struck out Mia Hignojos to open the third, marking the 519th strikeout of her career to move her into first place on the all-time career list. Landrith recorded the second out of the inning by striking out another Lobo. However, the next batter, Shelbie Franc, registered an RBI double to cut into the deficit, 2-1.
Leading off the fourth for RU, sophomore Bridget Carr (Pequannock, N.J.) recorded the first home run of her career to tie the score. The Scarlet Knights kept the momentum rolling with back-to-back doubles from the bats of Bates and Whitley to create a 5-1 advantage.
In the bottom of the fifth, New Mexico registered an RBI double from Lisa Rodrigues followed by a homer from Michala Erickson to make it a one-run game at 5-4.
Junior right-hander Dresden Maddox (Kennesaw, Ga.) entered the circle in search of her first save of the season. However, the Lobos finished off their comeback in the sixth inning via six runs on three hits. After UNM had established its first lead of the contest, 6-5, Jasmine Casados registered a grand slam give the Lobos a 10-5 victory.
Maddox (2-2) suffered the loss, while Carrie Sheehan (5-1) recorded the win for the Lobos.
Rutgers is set for a rematch with New Mexico on Sunday morning for its final contest of the Lobo Classic. The first pitch is set for 11 a.m. ET.
KNIGHT NOTES
- With four strikeouts in the game against New Mexico, Alyssa Landrith became Rutgers' all-time leader with 520 career strikeouts.
- Jackie Bates recorded her second home run of the season to bring her career total to 20 home runs. Bates is now tied for third on the all-time career list.
- Shayla Sweeney registered her first win of the season over the `Runners for the 10th victory of her career.
- Eight different Scarlet Knights contributed to the 12 hits dished out against CSU-Bakersfield.
- Bates tied her career best with three hits in five at bats against CSUB.
- Sierra Maddox made a career-high five appearances at the plate, recording one hit and one run against the `Runners.
- In the game against New Mexico, Bridget Carr recorded her first collegiate home run.
- Four Scarlet Knights recorded a total of two hits against the Lobos, including Bates, Slowinski, Hall and Huang.
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- RU-
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: SHEEHAN, Carrie (5-1)
L: Maddox, Dresden (2-2)
Batting:
2B: Bates, Jackie 1 ; Whitley, Jordan 1
HR: Carr, Bridget 1
RBI: Bates, Jackie 1 ; Whitley, Jordan 1 ; Huang, Stephanie 1 ; Carr, Bridget 2
SH: Howard, Chandler 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Todd, Carly 1 ; Bates, Jackie 1 ; Slowinski, Melanie 1 ; Huang, Stephanie 1 ; Carr, Bridget 1
SB: Huang, Stephanie 1
HBP: Todd, Carly 2
Batting:
2B: FRANC, Shelbie 1 ; CASADOS, Jasmine 1 ; RODRIGUES, Lisa 1
HR: CASADOS, Jasmine 1 ; ERICKSON, Michala 1
RBI: HEIMBURG, Brandi 1 ; FRANC, Shelbie 1 ; CASADOS, Jasmine 4 ; RODRIGUES, Lisa 1 ; ERICKSON, Michala 3
SH: HALEMAN, Karissa 1 ; HIGNOJOS, Mia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: HEIMBURG, Brandi 1 ; FRANC, Shelbie 1 ; CASADOS, Jasmine 1 ; RIMMER, Mariah 1 ; HALEMAN, Karissa 1 ; HIGNOJOS, Mia 1 ; RODRIGUES, Lisa 2 ; ERICKSON, Michala 2
