STATESBORO, Ga. – The softball Scarlet Knights went 1-1 for the second-straight day at the Bash in the Boro as Rutgers (2-2) opened Saturday play picking up a 3-2 win over Hartford with Taylor Manno earning her first career save before falling to host Georgia Southern, 9-1, in five innings later in the evening.

RUTGERS 3, HARTFORD 2

STANDOUT STATS

• The Scarlet Knights scored three runs in their first turn at-bat, including a two-run home run for senior Anyssa Iliopoulos, her second of the season.
• Freshman Ashley Hitchcock pitched 5.1 innings with seven strikeouts, while junior Taylor Manno picked up her first career save, including back-to-back K's to end the sixth leaving the Hawks with the bases loaded to end the inning.

THE RUNDOWN

• It didn't take very long for the Scarlet Knights to get onto the scoreboard. Sophomore Aleah Marra opened up the bottom of the first with a single down the ride side and two batters later was sent home on a Anyssa Iliopoulos shot over the left field fence.
• Scoring continued in the inning as rookie Payton Lincavage followed with double to left center and scored on an Ashley Hitchcock double to center for RU to go up 3-0.
• A triple to left by Kelsey Galevich in the top of the sixth put the Hawks up on the scoreboard and she reached home off a Scarlet Knight error at center to cut the Rutgers lead to one.
• Taylor Manno was called to the circle with the bases loaded and one out and struck out the next two Hartford batters to keep the Scarlet Knights in the lead.

KNIGHT NOTES

• Anyssa Iliopoulos moved into a three-way tie for sixth on the all-time home run leaders list with 20 career home runs joining teammate sophomore Katie Wingert and former Scarlet Knight Nikki Childress (2003-04).

GEORGIA SOUTHERN 9, RUTGERS 1 (5)

STANDOUT STATS

• Freshman Taylor Fawcett was responsible for the Rutgers run with her first collegiate home run to center in the top of the fifth.
• Sophomore Aleah Marra was 2-for-3 from the plate with a pair of doubles.

THE RUNDOWN

• Georgia Southern struck early taking a 3-0 lead by the end of the first off of three hits and an error. Ashlynn Gunter led off with a double up the middle and advanced home on the next batter as Mekhia Freeman's bunt was misplayed. Faith Shirley drove in Freeman with the next at-bat down the right field line. Later in the inning, Shayla Smith hit a RBI single to right to give the Eagles the 3-0 lead.
• The Eagles added another run in the second with Ellington Day opening the top of the inning finding a gap in right center for a two base hit and scored off Gunter's grounder to third.
• The hosts added to the lead in the bottom of the fourth with Freeman capitalizing on a failed pickoff attempt while at third.
• The Scarlet Knights thwarted the shutout in the fifth after Taylor Fawcett hit a straight shot over the center field fence and trailed 5-1.
• The run rule, however, went into effect after the Eagles drove in another four run at the bottom of the inning including a solo home run from Allyssah Mullis to start the scoring along with an RBI single out of Day and two run double by Gunter to end the game.

UP NEXT

The Rutgers softball team closes out its appearance at the Bash in the Boro on Sunday at 9 a.m. against ETSU.

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