BOCA RATON, Fla. (March 9, 2018) – Rutgers softball (9-10) started the Parents' Weekend Tournament at Florida Atlantic with a 5-2 setback to Stony Brook (5-7) on Friday evening under the lights on the southeastern coast of the Sunshine State.
 
Sophomore left fielder Hailey Hoklotubbe led the Scarlet Knights at the plate with two hits – her first multi-hit game of the season – and a run scored. Senior designated player Sierra Maddox and freshman Myah Moy added hits for Rutgers in a game that was tied in the middle of the fifth inning. Stony Brook scored three in the bottom of the fifth for the decisive advantage.
 
The Seawolves struck first in the second inning with two runs on two hits, but the nation's leaders in turning double plays got another to escape the inning with just a two-run deficit. It was Rutgers 17^th double dip in its 19^th game, a mark that leads the NCAA.
 
The Scarlet Knights tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the fifth as two walks and Hoklotubbe's bunt single set up the bases loaded with one out for senior first baseman Rebecca Hall, who hit into an RBI fielder's choice. As the Seawolves attempted to turn two on the grounder, Hall beat out the throw and allowed a heads-up Hoklotubbe to score on the play.


Stony Brook went right back on top in the sixth inning with a walk, single, double and error accounting for three runs and a 5-2 lead for the Seawolves. Sophomore starter Cambria Keefer took the loss and dropped to 4-4, and freshman Bianca Vozenilek pitched the final 1.1 frames without allowing a hit, walk or run.
 
Before the two-run fifth, Rutgers' best chance came in the third with Hoklotubbe leading off with her first of two bunt singles, followed by Maddox's stinger through the shortstop hole. Junior center fielder Nicolette Anico sacrificed both runners into scoring position, but Stony Brook escaped on a lineout double play off Hall's bat.
 
The Boca Raton tournament continues on Saturday, March 10 with games against Pittsburgh at 1:30 p.m. and Florida A&M at 3:45 p.m.
 
KNIGHT NOTES

• Senior third baseman Meaghan Wells tied a career-high with six assists.
• Stony Brook snapped a three-game losing streak to Rutgers, who now holds a 9-6 advantage in the all-time series.
• Hoklotubbe is the 10^th Scarlet Knight to record a multi-hit game this season.
• Maddox has reached base safely in five straight games.
• RU falls to 2-9 when the opponent scores first.

 
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