DURHAM, N.C. – The Rutgers softball team closed out the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Sunday dropping a 2-0 decision to host Duke to finish the challenge weekend 2-2.

The loss dropped the Scarlet Knights to 5-4 overall. The Blue Devils, meanwhile, went 4-0 in challenge play and won their fifth-straight to improve to 8-1 overall.

 

STANDOUT STATS

• In the circle, Duke's Shelby Walters recorded the complete game allowing only two hits along with six strikeouts.  
• Sophomore Katie Wingert and graduate student Gabrielle Callaway were 1-for-3 at the plate for Rutgers.
• Sophomore Corah Price dropped to 1-1 on the season inside the circle. Freshman Ashley Hitchcock threw the final two innings.

THE RUNDOWN

• Two early defensive plays helped keep Duke off the scoreboard early. The first inning saw catcher Katie Wingert throw out Duke's leadoff hitter Jameson Kavel attempting to steal second and in the bottom of the second, Ashley Hitchcock came up with the double play catching a line drive at third and catching Duke off guard at second base to keep the game scoreless.
• The top of the third inning, however, the Blue Devils opened with a Kravel single to left center and scored off a double to left field from Rachel Crabtree.
• Duke added another run in the top of the fifth. With the bases loaded and one out, Caroline Jacobsen fouled out to third, but the Blue Devils managed a run on a tag up from third by Kendyl Lange.
   

KNIGHT NOTES

• Over the four-game challenge, outfielder Taylor Lane hit .600 (3-for-5) with two runs and two RBI. Additionally, Scarlet Knight first baseman Gabrielle Callaway collected a .417 batting average (5-for-12), including a home run against Syracuse, and three runs along with a team-leading 18 putouts.
• Ashley Hitchcock went 1-0 inside the circle posting a 1.91 ERA in her three appearances and struck out five ACC batters.

QUOTES

Head Coach Kristen Butler 

Overall Thoughts on Rutgers' Performance in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge:
"Our goal entering the weekend was to try to jump ahead on teams early offensively. One of the takeaways from last weekend was that our offensive numbers were down and that we needed to find cohesiveness within the lineup. I thought overall we did a good job and in two of our games we were able to put a lot runs up. We were also able to execute some stuff on the bases that we've been working on to utilize our speed.

I was proud of our tenacity and how we continually punched back, especially in the Syracuse games. Our defense wasn't where it needed to be this weekend, which I think hurt us at times, but I was pleased with how the team responded after Saturday night's loss. After that first game with Duke, our leaders  stepped up and talked to the team to let them know that Rutgers softball is capable of much better. As a staff, we talked to the team about how a loss is a loss whether you lose by one or by 22 and what matters is how we can respond, control our energy, our demeanor and mental focus."

On Sunday's Duke Game:
"Our pitchers, Corah (Price) and Ashley (Hitchcock), had a great outing today. We still have a chance if they can keep us in the ballgame and I thought they did a good job of that today. I always tell our pitchers that if you can keep the game to under four runs or less, you give our offense a chance. We didn't walk away with the win, but I'm very proud of how we kept giving ourselves a chance. It was huge for them to bounce back mentally."

On Playing in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge:
"We were very excited to represent the Big Ten at the Big Ten/ACC Challenge this year. It was a great experience, a great atmosphere and we were happy to share that with Indiana. Being matched up with these teams based on RPI gave everyone quality opponents and some great games this weekend that we were happy to be a part of."
 

UP NEXT

The Rutgers softball team heads to Texas next week for five games in the Boerner Invitational featuring Kansas, UTSA and host UT-Arlington.

Follow Rutgers softball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.