Softball Heads to Georgia for Kennesaw State Tournament

Friday, February 23

Kennesaw, Ga.

5 PM

Rutgers University

Kennesaw State

Softball Heads to Georgia for Kennesaw State Tournament

Feb 22 | Softball

Game Notes Tournament Central

Five games in three days on tap for Scarlet Knights

KENNESAW, Ga. (Feb. 22, 2018) - Rutgers softball returns to warm weather for five games at the Bobbie Bailey Memorial Tournament at Kennesaw State on Friday-Sunday, Feb. 23-25. The Scarlet Knights open the weekend with a doubleheader against the host Owls on Friday night at 5 p.m., followed by a double-dip against Florida A&M on Saturday beginning at noon, and a single contest opposite Morehead State on Sunday at 10 a.m.

THE SLATE \| All Times Eastern
Fri. 2/23	@ Kennesaw State (DH)	5 / 7:30 p.m.
Sat. 2/24	vs. Florida A&M (DH)	12 / 2:30 p.m.
Sun. 2/25	vs. Morehead State	10 a.m.

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Links for live stats and video streaming: bit.ly/2o1zokY
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THE OPPONENTS
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COACH'S CORNER
"We're looking to build on our last win," said head coach Jay Nelson, whose club defeated Houston in extra innings to close out the tournament in Mexico last weekend. "It gave us a little momentum beating a good team that is now receiving votes in the national polls. We had some timely hitting and great pitching, so we're looking to carry that confidence into Georgia and bring home as many wins as possible."

AROUND THE HORN
• Senior first baseman Rebecca Hall reprised her role as Rutgers' top hitter with a hot start to 2018. At the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge last weekend in Mexico, she was named to the All-Tournament Team following a clutch two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning that ended up being the difference in Rutgers' 4-3 victory over 2017 American Athletic Conference champion Houston, who is now receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball national poll. Her three RBIs last week tied her for fifth place all-time in the Rutgers record book.
   37 | RBIs needed for Hall to set a new program career record
   9 | 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 is making a memorable collegiate 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. The rookie is ranked second on the team with a .350 average and leads the group with a .480 on-base percentage. She has reached base safely in nine straight games to start her career as a Scarlet Knight.

• Sophomore starting pitcher Cambria Keefer earned the first win of her collegiate career with impeccable control in the 4-3 victory over Houston in Mexico. She completed the extra-inning contest with eight innings of work, two earned runs, and didn't issue a single walk, hit batter or wild pitch while facing 35 batters in 102 pitches.

• RU underclassmen (Fr. & So.) have accounted for 31 of 52 hits (60%) thus far in 2018.

TRENDING
• Erin Collins has reached base safely in each of her nine games to start her collegiate career.
• Nicole Bowman is on a 6-game hitting streak.
• Rutgers is 8-for-9 in stolen base attempts.
• The Scarlet Knights have turned seven double plays in their first nine games, and their 0.78 DP's/game mark ranks ninth in the NCAA over that span.
• The Scarlet Knights are 2-0 when scoring first, and 1-6 when the opponent does.
• Two of Rutgers' three wins have been in come-from-behind fashion when trailing after five innings.
• Rutgers has hit a home run in all three of its wins.

HALL OF GAME
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. Hall moved up the RU record book in a few categories. With nine RBIs, she now ranks fifth with 109 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 4.

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.

HUGHES COMES HOME
Junior and Sewell, New Jersey native 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.

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

Christine Malito made the most of her first collegiate hit. With Rutgers down to their final outs in the top of the seventh and trailing 1-0 to Houston on Saturday, Malito's first career hit went down as an RBI single up the middle to tie the game. She also recorded two putouts and an assist in her first career start, which ended in a 4-3 victory for the Scarlet Knights.

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.

BOWMAN BREAKS OUT
Nicole Bowman was named to the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge All-Tournament Team by batting 5-for-11 with a walk, including a 2-for-2 mark in the win over Houston. The sophomore accounted for 39 of Rutgers' 97 hits by rookies last year. Bowman slashed .275/.393/.437 as a freshman with three home runs, 12 doubles and 34 RBIs.

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.

UP NEXT
Rutgers continues its non-conference schedule on March 2-4 at the Pirate Invitational, hosted by Hampton University in Virginia. The Scarlet Knights will play two against the host Hampton Pirates, a pair versus North Dakota and an opening game opposite Maryland Eastern Shore.