Softball Evens Series at Michigan State

Saturday, April 30

East Lansing, Mich.

1:00 PM

Rutgers

24-28, 8-11

Michigan State

24-26, 5-14

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Rutgers	0	3	0	2	0	2	0	7	12	0
Michigan State	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	8	1

Apr 30 | Softball

Box Score

April 30, 2016

Final Stats

EAST LANSING, MICH. (April 30, 2016) - The Rutgers softball team evened its series with Michigan State with a 7-1 victory on Saturday at Secchia Stadium.

RU improved to an overall record of 24-28 and a Big Ten mark of 8-11, while MSU dropped to 24-26 overall and 7-12 in league action.

Junior Shayla Sweeney (Barrington, N.J.) (9-6) earned the victory for RU, allowing only one run in four innings of work. Senior Dresden Maddox (Kennesaw, Ga.) registered three scoreless innings in relief to help close the win and earn the save. MSU's Dani Goranson (7-8) suffered the loss.

Rutgers was led by senior Stephanie Huang (Paramus, N.J.) with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, including two runs and an RBI. Classmate Melanie Slowinksi (Severn, Md.) added a team-high three RBIs on two hits in the win.

Michigan State was led by Celeste Wood with three hits, while McKensie Long and Kaitlyn Eveland followed with two hits apiece.

After Rutgers stranded a runner on in the top of the first, Michigan State added a run on three hits to establish a 1-0 edge. Slowinski then snagged a line out at shortstop to escape the frame with two Spartans on and hold the score at a one-run margin.

Sophomore Sierra Maddox (Kennesaw, Ga.) countered with a home run to lead off the second inning and tie the score, 1-1. RU was not finished there. After a single for senior Elizabeth Adams (Crystal Lake, Ill.) singled and stole second, junior Carly Todd (Deptford, N.J.) added a two-out RBI double to send Adams home and put the Scarlet Knights in the lead. Huang then capped the rally with an RBI single to extend the RU edge to 3-1.

Sweeney backed the offense with back-to-back scoreless frames in the second and third to keep the Scarlet Knight lead unharmed.

In the top of the fourth, the Scarlet Knights quickly loaded the bases. After freshman Nicolette Anico (Liberty County, Fla.) led off with a walk, Huang reached on a Spartan error and senior Jordan Whitley (Clayton, Del.) added a single to put three runners on. With two outs on the board, Slowisnki then notched a two-RBI single to push the RU lead to 5-1.

Michigan State managed to load the bases on two singles and a walk in the bottom of the fifth. However, Dresden Maddox entered the circle, retiring two consecutive batters at the plate to escape the frame unharmed.

Rutgers then tacked on two more runs on four hits in the top of the sixth. Huang and Whitley led off with back-to-back hits. Slowinski then registered a one-out RBI single followed by Sierra Maddox with an RBI single of her own to set the Scarlet Knights' advantage at 7-1.

Dresden Maddox closed the win by retiring three of four batters faced at the plate in the bottom of the seventh.

UP NEXT

The Scarlet Knights and Spartans meet for the finale on Sunday with the series tied at 1-1. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. ET.

KNIGHT NOTES

Four Scarlet Knights added two hits in the win, marking the 10th time RU had four or more hitters with two or more hits.
Melanie Slowinski added three RBIs, marking her team-high ninth multi-RBI game of the season.
Stephanie Huang added three hits for her team-high 18th multi-hit game of the season.
Stephanie Huang extended her hitting streak to five straight games and has notched a hit in seven of the last eight contests.
Dresden Maddox picked up the second save of her career.

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

- RU-