BROOKLYN, N.Y. (April 25, 2018) – Despite erasing a five-run deficit in the seventh to force extra innings and going ahead 10-7 in the eighth, Rutgers softball dropped a wild one at LIU Brooklyn, 11-10, in nine innings on Wednesday evening.
 
Sophomore designated player Anyssa Iliopoulos hit a grand slam in the top of the seventh inning to help the Scarlet Knights (17-27) come back from a 7-2 hole entering the final frame. She also added a go-ahead RBI double in the eighth inning. Junior second baseman Jess Hughes, senior first baseman Rebecca Hall and senior catcher Sierra Maddox all went yard for Rutgers on Wednesday, RU's first four-homer game since April 27, 2014 against UConn. Maddox's shot gave Rutgers a 10-7 lead in the top of the eighth.
 
After giving up the lead, the Blackbirds (17-24) were up for a comeback of their own with a game-tying, three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth. LIU then loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth and walked off on an RBI fielder's choice to second base.
 
Hall went 4-for-6 in the game, her third contest this season with four hits, and moved into third place all-time at Rutgers with 212 hits. Hall passed Chandler Howard (2012-15) and trails Sharron Morris (1993-96) for second place at 213.
 
Trailing 7-2 and down to their final two outs, Hall sparked the rally with a hard-hit single up the middle. Freshman second baseman Myah Moy immediately followed with a double before sophomore right fielder Nicole Bowman walked to load the bases for Iliopoulos' dramatic grand slam, which was hit on a line off the tape and over the fence.
 
Now down to their final out, the Scarlet Knights relied on a pair of freshmen to keep the game alive. Left fielder Madyson Cole stung a single through the left side, and Erin Collins drew a pinch-hit walk to advance junior Adriana Burcar – who pinch-ran for Cole – into scoring position for Hughes. The junior from Sewell, N.J. tied the game with an RBI single up the middle.
 
Much earlier, Hughes rocketed the very first pitch of the ballgame over the left field fence for her fourth home run of the season to stake RU with an early 1-0 lead. Hughes has now led off two contests this season with a home run, with the last coming in an 8-5 victory at Mercer on March 17.
 
Making her second career start, freshman Taylor Manno held the lead until the second inning, when the Blackbirds got a leadoff, game-tying home run on a payoff pitch.
 
Rutgers went back ahead on another long ball, this one off the bat of Hall to mark her seventh of the year. The solo home run was the 29^th round-tripper of her career.
 
LIU starter Victoria Lowe settled down from there, posting four straight scoreless frames before Rutgers tagged her with the grand slam. Meanwhile, her offense backed her up with an RBI groundout in the third, a three-run home run in the fifth, and a run-scoring double in the sixth for the 7-2 advantage.
 
The Scarlet Knights head out on their final road trip of the year on Friday through Sunday, April 27-29 at Michigan State for a three-game Big Ten series.
 
 
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