Softball Dominates Maryland in Doubleheader

Tuesday, April 21

Piscataway, N.J.

4:00 PM

Rutgers University

26-14, 8-9

Maryland

26-21, 10-7

Maryland

Rutgers

Apr 21 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

April 21, 2015

Final Stats

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (April 21, 2015) -- Behind powerful hitting and solid pitching, the Rutgers softball team dominated Maryland in a Tuesday afternoon doubleheader at the RU Softball Complex. The Scarlet Knights came from behind to claim a 6-5 victory in the opening contest before rolling over the Terps, 11-3, with a five-inning victory in the next.

RU improves to an overall record of 26-14 and a Big Ten mark of 10-7, while UMD drops to 26-21 overall and 8-9 in league action.

Senior Alyssa Landrith (Vacaville, Calif.) became Rutgers' all-time wins leader, registering her 66^th career win in game one with the Terps.

GAME ONE

Rutgers opened the doubleheader with a come-from-behind victory over Maryland. After falling behind 5-2, the Scarlet Knights registered four uncontested runs to claim the win.

In her initial trip to the plate, freshman Sierra Maddox (Kennesaw, Ga.) put RU on the board first with a home run to center field.

Maryland then countered with a homer of its own from Lindsey Schmeiser to tie the game at 1-1 in the top of the third. However, in RU's half of the frame, junior Stephanie Huang (Paramus, N.J.) led things off with a double, followed by a move up to third on a wild pitch. Huang would then return the lead to RU, crossing home on a passed ball.

The Terps responded with a four-run inning, ignited by a lead-off homer from Shannon Bustillos. The rally kept rolling as UMD added four runs on five hits to generate a 5-2 edge. However, Landrith sent the final batter down swinging to keep the game in reach.

As Landrith held the Terps scoreless, RU showed its resilience adding two uncontested runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings. With the score now at 5-4, the senior lefty worked a 1-2-3 inning in the opening half of the seventh to give the RU offense one last shot at victory.

Following a double from senior Chandler Howard (North Wilmington, Del.) and a walk from Bates, junior Jordan Whitley (Clayton, Del.) notched an RBI single, sending Howard across to tie the game, 5-5. Up next, classmate Melanie Slowinski (Severn, Md.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Freshman Rebecca Hall (Fairfax, Va.) did not back down with a 1-2 pitch count as she was hit by a pitch to send the winning run in.

Landrith (14-8) tossed a complete game in the victory becoming Rutgers all-time wins leader with 66 career victories in the books.

GAME TWO

Rutgers needed only five innings to work with in the second contest, claiming an 11-3 victory over Maryland.

Maryland jumped to an early 3-0 lead in the first frame. Corey Schwartz registered a two-run home run to start things off for the Terps, as Erin Pronobis followed with a homer of her own. With a 3-0 score in UMD's favor, sophomore Shayla Sweeney (Barrington, N.J.) entered the circle for RU. The right-hander coaxed a double play to end the top of the first with no further damage.

Following a double from Howard, Bates notched an RBI single to send her teammate across, while she advanced to second on the throw. Up next, Whitley notched another base hit for RU. With Slowinski at the plate, Whitley made an attempt to steal second. As the Terps took a shot at catching her, Bates capitalized on the moment by stealing home. RU successful registered a double steal with the play and made it a one-run contest, 3-2, in the opening inning.

Sweeney remained strong in the circle, holding the Terps scoreless in the top half of the second.

The Scarlet Knights used the momentum from their pitcher as they countered with a six-run inning to claim the lead. A two-run homer from Howard kicked things off as RU moved in front, 4-3. Slowinksi added another run to RU's tally with an RBI single. It was Hall who capped things off, belting a long ball over the left field fence to bring in three runs, extending the Scarlet Knight advantage to 8-3.

Despite surrendering a two-out double to the Terps in the next inning, Sweeney induced a fly out to hold Maryland scoreless.

Rutgers registered back-to-back RBI doubles from sophomore Carly Todd (Deptford, N.J.) and Sierra Maddox to cushion its edge, 10-3 in the fourth inning. Sweeney backed up the offense, denying any runners across for UMD in the top of the fifth.

A walk from Bates followed by an RBI double from Whitley sealed the win, 11-3, after only five innings of play.

Sweeney (5-2) registered four scoreless innings and allowed only two hits in her second Big Ten victory.

Up next, Rutgers travels to Penn State for a three-game series beginning Friday, April 24.

KNIGHT NOTES

Alyssa Landrith became Rutgers' all-time career wins leader, registering her 66^th victory. She surpassed former Scarlet Knight Juliette Brooks, who compiled 65 wins across 1996-99.
Shayla Sweeney picked up her second victory in conference play, having earned her first in the 22-17 win over Michigan State.
Jackie Bates registered her 44^th RBI of the season, a total that ranks third on the single-season list.
RU recorded five doubles in the first game, marking the most since the Scarlet Knights notched five against UConn on March 29, 2013. Five different batters in the lineup registered an extra base hit -- Stephanie Huang, Chandler Howard, Jackie Bates, Melanie Slowinski and Chandler Howard.

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-