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."

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 RUNDOWN

• 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.

KNIGHT NOTES

• 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.

THE RUNDOWN

• 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.

KNIGHT NOTES

• 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.

UP NEXT
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.
 
 
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