Softball Heads South of the Border for Puerto Vallarta Challenge

Thursday, February 15

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

6 PM

Rutgers University

Texas

Softball Heads South of the Border for Puerto Vallarta Challenge

Feb 14 | Softball

Game Notes Tournament Central

Scarlet Knights to meet two nationally ranked teams in Mexico

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO (Feb. 14, 2018) – Rutgers softball heads South from California across the border for four games at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge in Mexico Feb. 15-17. It will be one of the toughest stretches for the Scarlet Knights in strength of schedule with two nationally ranked opponents, two 2017 conference champions and three 2017 NCAA Tournament qualifiers on the docket in Mexico.

THE SLATE
All Times Eastern

Thu. 2/15	vs. Texas	6 p.m.
Fri. 2/16	vs. No. 3 Oregon	6 p.m.
Sat. 2/17	vs. No. 15/18 Ole Miss	12 p.m.
Sat. 2/17	vs. Houston	3 p.m.

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Links for live stats and video streaming: http://bit.ly/2o1zokY
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THE OPPONENTS
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KNIGHT NOTES
• Senior first baseman Rebecca Hall reprised her role as Rutgers' top hitter with a hot start to 2018. At the Titan Classic during opening weekend, five of her seven hits went for extra bases as she hit for the cycle during the five-game tournament with six RBIs. In the 11-5 victory over Utah State, she was a single shy of the cycle with five RBIs and the 23rd home run of her career.
               40 | RBIs needed for Hall to set a new program career record
               11 | Hall hits needed to crack the all-time Top 10 at RU
               14 | Hall doubles needed to set program career record

• Freshman designated player Erin Collins made a memorable debut. The rookie drew a walk in her first career appearance pinch hitting against UC-Riverside, then cracked a pinch-hit, two-out grand slam in her first official collegiate at-bat in the top of the seventh against Cal State Fullerton. It was Rutgers' first grand slam since April 28, 2015. Her second career at-bat was a hard-hit double off the left centerfield fence on the fly.

• Junior Jess Hughes transferred in from Fordham and earned the starting nod at shortstop. Hughes set a Fordham record for OBP (.510) in 2017. She hit .370 for the Rams with 12 doubles, six triples, 11 home runs and 41 RBIs en route to NFCA All-Region, All-ECAC and All-Atlantic 10 honors. She ranked 15th in the nation with 0.87 walks per game and 18th with six triples.

• Rebecca Hall was named to the 2017 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division I All-Great Lakes Region First Team following her breakout junior season. The momentum has rolled into 2018. During opening weekend, Hall moved up the RU record book in a few categories. With six RBIs, she now ranks sixth with 106 career ribbies. Her three doubles have her tied for sixth all-time with 38, and her triple helped her crack the all-time Top 10 in career three-baggers with four. She set a new career high with nine total bases in the 11-5 victory over Utah State on Sunday, Feb. 11. Hall finished a single shy of the cycle with five RBIs, surpassing her previous record of eight total bases against UNC Greensboro on March 5, 2016.

• Senior catcher Sierra Maddox's role calling games and protecting the plate is vital, as is her bat in the middle of Rutgers' lineup. She slashed .276/.331/.425 last season with four home runs to increase her career total to 18, which ranks seventh in the RU record book. She added 18 RBIs, ranked second on the team with five successful sacrifices, and came up clutch with the walk-off RBI single in the 6-5 victory over Michigan State in the bottom of the seventh inning. To begin 2018, Maddox is hitting .313 with a home run and four RBIs.

EARLY TRENDS
• Rutgers is 7-for-7 in stolen base attempts.
• The Scarlet Knights have turned five double plays in their first five games, and their 1.00 DP's/game mark ranks second in the NCAA over that span. Overall, their .979 fielding percentage ranks 35th.
• Rutgers rookies have 12 of the team's 33 hits to start the year, led by Myah Moy's five and Erin Collins' four.
• Taryn Collins won her first collegiate decision in the 11-5 win over Utah State, pitching the final three innings with no earned runs and two strikeouts.
• The Scarlet Knights are 2-0 when scoring first, and 0-3 when the opponent scores first.

RUTGERS RECRUITS
Jay Nelson welcomes 10 newcomers to the squad in 2018, including nine first-years.

Alexis Silinonte wasted little time in impressing her coaching staff and backing up her .418/.526/.553 slash line from Petaluma High School in California, where she was a two-time First Team All-League performer and three-time Sonoma County League champion.

Myah Moy's impact during fall ball and preseason camp earned the freshman a starting spot at second base. Hailing from Bradenton, Florida, Moy has been named All-County in each of the last four seasons while hitting over .500 and driving in 73 RBIs over her last two years. Moy recorded a fantastic fielding percentage of .976 during her senior season.
Moy also sports the intangible ability to produce in clutch situations. In 2015, she helped deliver a U16 National Championship to her club team, the Tampa Mustangs 98. Moy's Mustangs lost the first game of the double-elimination tournament, yet rebounded to win out and claim the title behind Moy's three home runs – including a grand slam – and a crucial RBI in a 1-0 victory.

GREECE LIGHTNING
Sophomore Anyssa Iliopoulos was chosen to play for the Greek National Team at the European Softball Championships from June 25 to July 1, 2017 in Bollate, Italy.

The Greek National Team finished sixth out of 23 countries, the highest finish for the squad since 2004. The team picked up wins over Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Slovakia and Sweden. Iliopoulos was a prime factor in the result, posting a team-leading .419 batting average in 11 starts at third base. She also added team highs with 13 hits, 11 RBIs, two doubles, two triples and a home run.

SCOLARLY SUCCESS
Rutgers was named a 2016-17 Easton/NFCA All-Academic Team, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced in October. Additionally, nine Scarlet Knights were named All-America Scholar-Athletes for posting a GPA of 3.5 or higher. The Scarlet Knights named All-America Scholar-Athletes included Nicolette Anico, Bridget Carr, Dana Hendry, Whitney Jones, Jacqueline Kott, Aubrie Levine, Sierra Maddox, Carly Todd and Meaghan Wells.

Jacqueline Kott, Sierra Maddox and Meaghan Wells were also inducted into the Delta Chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma Society, the first national scholar-athlete society to honor collegiate student-athletes who have excelled in both the classroom and in athletic competition. The group was recognized for their achievements during halftime of the Rutgers football game against Ohio State on Saturday, September 30 in an on-field ceremony. To earn induction into the honor society, a student-athlete must attend a four-year accredited college or university that is an NCAA or NAIA member, achieve junior status, hold a minimum 3.4 GPA, have an endorsement from their head coach and be of good moral character.

UP NEXT
Rutgers remains in warm weather for the Bailey Memorial Tournament for five games at Kennesaw State on Feb. 23-25. The Scarlet Knights open with a doubleheader against the host Owls on Friday evening, Feb. 23 before another double-dip on Saturday against Florida A&M. RU closes with a single game against Morehead State on Sunday.

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 (facebook.com/RutgersSB).

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