PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico (Feb. 16, 2018) – Rutgers softball dropped its second game at the Puerto Vallarta College Classic in Mexico to 2017 NCAA World Series qualifier and No. 3 ranked Oregon by a 10-0 count in five innings on Friday evening.
 
The Scarlet Knights (2-5) had its chances early in each of the first three innings against the Ducks, who remained undefeated at 8-0 to start the season. Rutgers got the leadoff runner on base in three straight frames via walks drawn by junior second baseman Jess Hughes and senior catcher Sierra Maddox, along with a hit by freshman right fielder Erin Collins. Oregon starter Maggie Balint escaped the early trouble each time en route to her third win in the circle this season.
 
Collins' base knock up the middle to lead off the second came on an 0-2 count, and represented one of two hits against Balint, who completed the shutout with two walks and four strikeouts. Sophomore designated player Nicole Bowman had the other hit, a one-out single up the middle on the first pitch she saw from Balint in the top of the fifth.
 
Rutgers countered with a trio of freshmen in the circle, with each picking up valuable experience against one of the top lineups in the nation. Taylor Manno highlighted the evening with the most memorable moment early in her collegiate career. With three Ducks on the pond and just one out, Manno recorded her first collegiate strikeout against First Team NFCA All-American DJ Sanders, then coaxed a fly out as Oregon stranded the bases loaded.

Taryn Collins earned her first collegiate start and dropped to 1-1, while Bianca Vozenilek worked a 1-2-3 fourth inning on three fly outs to keep the Ducks stuck at 10 runs.
 
The Scarlet Knights will face their second straight nationally ranked team on Saturday, Feb. 17, taking on No. 15/18 Ole Miss at noon ET, followed by Game 2 of their Saturday doubleheader against Houston at 3 p.m. ET to conclude the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge.
 
 
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