DURHAM, N.C. –  Rutgers went 1-1 on day two of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge as the Scarlet Knights picked up a second victory over Syracuse, 10-5, but were unable to overcome the host Duke Blue Devils in a 22-1 loss in the night game.
Saturday's split moved the Scarlet Knights to 5-3 on the season and a 2-1 record in the challenge.
RUTGERS 10, SYRACUSE 5
- The top of the order – Aleah Marra, Anyssa Iliopoulos and Katie Wingert – along with Taylor Lane all recorded two RBI apiece.
- Marra, who has reached base safely over the last six games, was 2-for-3 at the plate.
- Ashley Hitchcock, in the circle for the final five innings, logged five strikeouts and no earned runs in the win to improve to 3-1 on the year.
- Scarlet Knights had a huge second inning scoring seven runs on six hits to jump out front. The bases were loaded for Taylor Fawcett's RBI fielder's choice for leadoff Gabrielle Callaway to score RU's first run of the game.
- The runs kept coming as Taylor Lane collected two RBI with a high fly landing in shallow right and Anyssa Iliopoulos lining down the left field line for two RBI to put Rutgers ahead 5-0.
- Katie Wingert rounded out the second inning scoring on a two-run homer to left field to go ahead 7-0. It was her third out of the park hit for the sophomore in the Big Ten /ACC Challenge.
- The Orange, however, responded in the top of the third with four runs on four hits. Syracuse opened with a solo homer to left from Alexis Kaiser and singles from Jamie Gregg and Gabby Teran added another three runs.
- Rutgers tacked on another three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Hailey Hoklotubbe hit into a fielder's choice and in trying to stop Aleeah Randazzo from scoring, threw the ball away at home allowing the freshman to cross the plate. Aleah Marra followed with a two RBI double to left center to put the Scarlet Knights ahead 10-4.
- Syracuse added a run in their final turn at bat in the top of the seventh capitalizing on a RU error.
- Katie Wingert moved into sole possession of fifth place on the all-time Rutgers home run leaders list with 22 to her credit in her second season "On The Banks". She needs one more to move into a tie for fourth place with Sierra Maddox (2015-18).
- Anyssa Iliopoulos posted her third game of season with two runs batted in.
DUKE 22, RUTGERS 1 (5)
The Scarlet Knights were not able to overcome the hot hitting Blue Devils who finished with 18 hits.
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- Duke raced out in front in their first appearance at the plate capturing 10 runs on nine hits and scored five more times in the second and an additional seven in the third.
- Rutgers got onto the scoreboard in the top of the second with an Ashley Hitchcock single up the middle to send Gabrielle Callaway home.
- Cambria Keefer made her first appearance in the circle against the Blue Devils.
Rutgers wraps up the Big Ten/ACC Challenge in game two with the Blue Devils. First pitch is set for Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
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