FULLERTON, Calif. (Feb. 9, 2018) – Rutgers softball opened the 2018 season with a 10-0 loss to UC-Riverside and a 6-5 setback to host Cal State Fullerton on Day 1 of the Titan Classic on Friday.
 
Despite the 0-2 start to the season, the Scarlet Knights head into Day 2 with momentum after a furious five-run comeback attempt fell just short in the top of the seventh inning against the Titans in the nightcap. Trailing 6-0 and down to their final three outs, senior catcher Sierra Maddox got Rutgers on the board with an RBI single before freshman Erin Collins delivered a pinch-hit, two-out, grand slam home run in her first official collegiate at-bat.
 
It was Rutgers' first grand slam since Jackie Bates on April 28, 2015 in an 18-9 win over LIU Brooklyn. The bases-loaded jack brought the Scarlet Knights within one run at 6-5 before Fullerton (1-0), the two-time defending Big West Conference champions, coaxed a groundout to escape in their season opener.
 
Senior first baseman Rebecca Hall was the lone Scarlet Knight with hits in both ends of the twin bill, going 1-for-2 with a walk against Riverside and 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored opposite Fullerton pitching.
 
Junior Adriana Burcar recorded the first hit of 2018, a well-placed bunt single with a runner on first to break up Riverside pitcher Tayler Misfeldt's no-hit bid in the fifth inning. As the offense had trouble touching Misfeldt, Rutgers countered with junior pitcher Whitney Jones in the circle in Game 1. Jones lasted four with two runs on five hits and a walk with one strikeout.
 
Collins made her debut in Game 1, but did not record an official at-bat as she drew a walk in her fifth-inning pinch hit appearance. Her second appearance ended in a sky-high blast over the left centerfield fence that chased three of her teammates across the plate with her.
 
Sophomore Cambria Keefer got the start in Game 2, taking the loss with five runs in 4.1 frames. Sophomore outfielder Hailey Hoklotubbe, freshman second baseman Myah Moy and sophomore Anyssa Iliopoulos added hits against Fullerton.
 
It was a day of debuts as seven Scarlet Knight freshmen appeared for the first time, including Collins, Moy, Madyson Cole, pitchers Taryn Collins, Bianca Vozenilek, and Taylor Manno, and outfielder Alexis Silinonte – who got the start in right field in both games.
 
The Scarlet Knights return to the Anderson Family Field on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 1 and 4 p.m. EST against Middle Tennessee State and Pittsburgh.
 
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