
Softball Drops Two at Mercer Invitational
Feb 08 | Softball
Freshmen shine in Game 2 against Mercer
MACON, Ga. (Feb. 8, 2019) – Rutgers softball dropped the first two games of the 2019 season at the Mercer Invitational, falling to Jacksonville State, 11-2, before the host Bears claimed a well-pitched, defensive battle by a 2-1 score.
"The first games of the year serve to show where you are as a team, what needs to be improved and where we need to go moving forward," said head coach Kristen Butler. "We made several adjustments from Game 1 to Game 2. We will continue to make adjustments and improvements throughout the weekend."
The Mercer Invitational continues on Saturday, Feb. 9 with a couple of rematches. Rutgers faces Jacksonville State at 10 a.m. and Mercer at 4:45 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). For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.
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"The first games of the year serve to show where you are as a team, what needs to be improved and where we need to go moving forward," said head coach Kristen Butler. "We made several adjustments from Game 1 to Game 2. We will continue to make adjustments and improvements throughout the weekend."
JACKSONVILLE STATE's 7-RUN FIRST INNING TOO MUCH TO OVERCOME
STANDOUT STATS- Junior right fielder Anyssa Iliopoulos got Rutgers on the board in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run home run to left center, her second hit of game.
- Senior shortstop Jess Hughes went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles.
- The Gamecocks jumped on Rutgers' senior starter Whitney Jones for seven runs in the top of the first on five hits, including a three-run homer.
- Jones settled down over the next three innings without allowing another run and surrendering just one more hit.
- The Rutgers bats, however, couldn't make up the deficit as Kirsten Titus threw 4.2 innings of scoreless, three-hit softball. JSU added four in the top of the sixth before Iliopoulos' homer.
- Freshman second baseman Aleah Marra recorded three putouts and an assist and freshman catcher Katie Wingert posted two putouts and an assist in their college debuts.
FRESHMEN SHINE IN 2-1 LOSS TO MERCER
STANDOUT STATS- Freshman starting pitcher Corah Price pitched a complete-game four-hitter in her college debut, allowing two runs in six innings with two walks and four strikeouts.
- Freshman Katie Wingert plated Rutgers' only run as her first collegiate hit cleared the fence for a solo home run in the top of fourth inning.
- Junior right fielder Anyssa Iliopoulos (1-for-3) picked up her second extra-base hit of the season with a double in the top of the second.
- Mercer broke through in the first as a hit batter plated a run with the bases loaded. Price quickly settled by getting the first two strikeouts of her college career to end the bottom of the second.
- Wingert launched an 0-1 pitch deep to left field to tie the game with one swing.
- Rutgers squandered opportunities to take the lead in the second and sixth, when they hit into double plays.
- Mercer's game-winner came in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out double that scored a run after interference was called on the Scarlet Knights near home plate.
- The Bears' Lynn Gardner finished her complete-game win with a 1-2-3 top of the seventh.
- Rutgers had a freshman homer for their first college hit in back-to-back season opening days, with Erin Collins doing it last season.
- Senior center fielder Nicolette Anico went 1-for-2 and is now six hits away from 100 for her career.
The Mercer Invitational continues on Saturday, Feb. 9 with a couple of rematches. Rutgers faces Jacksonville State at 10 a.m. and Mercer at 4:45 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). For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kirsten Titus (1-0)
L: Jones, Whitney (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Lex Hull 1 ; Sidney Wagnon 1
HR: Kirsten Titus 2
RBI: Karsen Mosley 1 ; Lex Hull 2 ; Kirsten Titus 6 ; Sidney Wagnon 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Karsen Mosley 1 ; Savannah Suddeth 1 ; Taylor Beshears 1 ; Lex Hull 1 ; Reagan Watkins 1 ; Anna Chisolm 1 ; Kirsten Titus 2 ; Kaley Warren 1 ; Hayley Sims 1 ; Sidney Wagnon 1
SB: Anna Chisolm 1
HBP: Savannah Suddeth 1

Batting:
2B: Hughes, Jess 2
HR: Iliopoulos, Anyssa 1
RBI: Iliopoulos, Anyssa 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Collins, Erin 1 ; Iliopoulos, Anyssa 1
CS: Burcar, Adriana 1
HBP: Cole, Madyson 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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