KENNESAW, Ga. (Feb. 23, 2018) – Rutgers softball opened the Bobbie Bailey Memorial Tournament with a pair of wins over the host Kennesaw State Owls on Friday evening in Georgia, taking the first game in come-from-behind fashion, 4-3, in extra innings before a 7-0 shutout in Game 2.
 
Down 3-1 heading into the final inning of Game 1, the Scarlet Knights (5-6) benefitted from two unearned runs to tie the game against the Owls (2-5), stamped by a game-tying RBI groundout off the bat of senior center fielder Nicolette Anico. Rutgers capitalized on its first opportunity in the International Tiebreaker in extra innings as sophomore designated player Nicole Bowman plated junior Jess Hughes for the eventual game-winning run on a sacrifice fly. Junior starting pitcher Whitney Jones completed the game for her second win of the season, working around the ITB leadoff runner on second base for a scoreless eighth.
 
Freshman right fielder Erin Collins got on base in both games, stretching her reached-base safely streak to 11 straight games to begin her collegiate career. She added an RBI single with the bases loaded in the top of the first of Game 1, giving Rutgers the early 1-0 lead. She then drew a walk and added a single in the nightcap to run her team-high season on-base percentage to .484.
 
Senior first baseman Rebecca Hall continues her march up the RU record book while contributing to both victories on Friday. She was 3-for-8 on the day with two RBIs and a triple. Her two ribbies garnered sole possession of fifth place all-time at Rutgers with 111 RBIs, while her triple moved her into seventh place with five career three-baggers.
 
In Game 2, Hall's two-run single helped fuel the five-run third inning that proved to be all the offense Rutgers would need to support sophomore starting pitcher Cambria Keefer.
 
Keefer won her second consecutive game in the circle, tossing seven frames of scoreless softball for her first career complete game shutout. She allowed four hits and two walks, while striking out a career-high four.
 
With RU up 5-0 in the sixth inning of Game 2, sophomore third baseman Anyssa Iliopoulos put a stamp on the two-win day with her first home run of the season, a two-run bomb to left center.
 
Anico, Hall, Collins, Iliopoulos and freshman second baseman Myah Moy recorded a hit in both ends of the doubleheader victory.
 
With heavy rain expected on Sunday, Rutgers has seen the schedule shifted at the Bailey Memorial Tournament. The Scarlet Knights are tentatively slated to play three on Saturday, against Florida A&M at noon, Morehead State at 2:30, and another against Kennesaw State at 7 p.m.
 
 
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).