PISCATAWAY, N.J. (March 16, 2018) – Rutgers softball opened a three-game set against No. 23/24 Ohio State with a 12-3 loss in six innings on a blustery Friday afternoon at the RU Softball Complex.
 
The Scarlet Knights (17-17, 2-3 B1G) were led by junior shortstop Jess Hughes's two hits as she extended her career-long hit streak to 15 straight games, but could not overcome Ohio State's (22-8, 3-4) eight extra base hits, including three home runs.
 
Hughes' single to lead off the bottom of the first inning extended the streak to 15, the longest hitting stretch for a Scarlet Knights since Jackie Bates and Stephanie Huang each enjoyed a 15-game streak in 2015. No Rutgers player has posted a 16-game hitting streak since Sarah Kalker in 2007, when she ended up hitting in 18 straight.
 
Hughes' leadoff base knock helped Rutgers get on the board after the Buckeyes bit first with two runs in the top of the first. Freshman second baseman Myah Moy beat out a swinging bunt single to chase Hughes home for her 11^th RBI of the year and Rutgers trailed 2-1.
 
Ohio State, however, would not relent on offense as their power bats provided four runs in the second and another three in the third for the 9-1 advantage.
 
With another run on the board for OSU in the top of the fourth, RU got two back in the bottom half on sophomore Hailey Hoklotubbe's RBI single and another on a passed ball following a strikeout with the bases loaded. Hoklotubbe now carries a four-game hitting streak and has an RBI in three straight.
 
Hughes was on base three times, as was senior first baseman Rebecca Hall, who went 1-for-1 with a pair of walks.
 
Ohio State tacked on two runs in the sixth to invoke the run-rule. Freshman reliever Taylor Manno closed the game out for Rutgers with a career-high four innings, allowing just two earned runs because of a pair of errors behind her. She struck out three.
 
The series continues on Saturday, April 7 with a 1 p.m. start from the RU Softball Complex and live on BTN+.
 
 
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