Softball Opens 2022 Campaign At Puerto Vallarta Challenge

Thursday, February 10

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

11:00 AM (ET)

Rutgers University

Arkansas

Last season Rutgers softball opened the year at the Spring Games in Leesburg, Florida

Photo by: (Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics)

Softball Opens 2022 Campaign At Puerto Vallarta Challenge

Feb 06 | Softball

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers softball team kicks off the 2022 season this week opening the year with five games at the Puerto Vallarta Challenge taking on No. 7 Washington, No. 8 Arkansas, Lamar and Memphis.

TOURNAMENT INFO

Tournament:	Puerto Vallarta Challenge Nancy Almaraz Field \| Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Game Notes:	Rutgers \| Arkansas \| Memphis \| Lamar \| Washington
Statistics:	Ru tgers \| Arkansas \| Memphis \| Lamar \| Washington \| Big Ten
Live Stats & Video:	Thursday, Feb. 10 11 a.m. – Rutgers vs. Arkansas - Stats \| Video 1:30 p.m. – Rutgers vs. Memphis - Stats \| Video Friday, Feb. 11 7 p.m. – Rutgers vs. Lamar - Stats \| Video Saturday, Feb. 12 11 a.m. – Rutgers vs. Lamar - Stats \| Video 4 p.m. – Rutgers vs. Washington - Stats \| Video * - All times listed ET
Social Media:	Facebook \| Twitter \| Instagram

ABOUT THE SCARLET KNIGHTS

The Scarlet Knights welcome back 17 letterwinners and seven starters from last year's youthful squad that played a Big Ten only schedule. The roster is comprised of two graduate students/seniors, 10 juniors, seven sophomores and a trio of rookies that will be battled tested with six nonconference tournaments before setting off on the always tough Big Ten slate. Much of the roster will be enjoying a full traditional schedule after the CoVID-19 pandemic saw Rutgers play only 24 games and five weekends of ball in 2020 and a 2021 schedule that featured a conference only slate. All returning Scarlet Knights saw time on the field and are eager to showcase the improvements made during the offseason.
Rutgers welcomes back graduate student Gabrielle Callaway for her sixth season. The Alabama transfer led Rutgers in her second season "On The Banks" with 37 hits, five home runs, seven doubles and 17 RBIs. Callaway played at first all last season, but could also see time in the outfield, a position she also played while a member of the Crimson Tide.
A defensive stalwart at the corner, third baseman Payton Lincavage is also one of the top returning members of the lineup. A year ago, she hit .283 leading the squad with 22 hits and 17 RBIs while contributing a team second-best 36 hits, five doubles and three home runs.
Redshirt junior Katie Wingert is back to full strength after making only 10 appearances last year. The catcher had a phenomenal freshman campaign that saw the Scarlet Knight pick up Second Team All-Big Ten, All-Big Ten Freshman Team, First Team All-ECAC and Second Team NFCA All-Region honors after blasting 18 home runs - including three extra-inning walkoffs. Wingert enters this season ranked sixth all-time in home runs at Rutgers.
Junior Kiersten Withstandley stepped up to the challenge to take over catching duties for Wingert behind the plate last year and had a breakout season with the bat with 23 hits and 13 RBIs.
The infield will see some new faces including sophomore Kyleigh Sand, a transfer from Louisiana Lafayette that will step into shortstop, freshman Maddie Lawson with an opportunity to start at second base and fellow newcomer Georgia Ingle who could see time at first base. Bolstering the defense will also be returning roster members Lauren Punk, Mya Mancini, Gabrielle Hendri and Megan Herka and added depth behind the plate in Gillian Walsh.
The outfield will see some veteran talent returning junior Taylor Fawcett, Kayla Bock, Leilani Chavez, Kobie Hura and Courtney Wilde. Fawcett and Bock have displayed power at the plate while Hura and Chavez are looking to build upon their significant playing time as freshmen. Freshman Lilly Orozco gives Rutgers a boost in the outfield as well.
Rutgers' two top pitchers are also back and bolstered by newcomer depth. Junior Ashley Hitchcock was the workhorse of the staff tossing 135.1 innings with 80 strikeouts. The Scarlet Knights is also a threat at the plate having batted .385 in her 13 times at-bat. Classmate Jaden Vickers is looking to improve upon last season's appearances hurling 47.2 innings with 35 strikeouts. As a freshman, the left-hander fanned 13 in Scarlet Knight debut back in 2020. The two juniors will also be looking to bring along freshmen Georgia Ingle and Lilly Orozco.

ABOUT ARKANSAS

Head Coach: Courtney Deifel (California '03) - 217-144 overall (eighth season)/190-117 at Arkansas (seventh season)
2021 Record: 43-11
2021 SEC Record: 19-5
2021 Postseason: NCAA Super Regional

All-Time Series: Razorbacks lead 2-1

Returning Razorbacks:
Batting

Danielle Gibson - .355 BA, 32 runs, 61 hits, 15 HR, 16 doubles, 51 RBIs - Second Team NFCA All-American, Second Team All-SEC
Hannah McEwen - .318 BA, 41 runs, 41 hits, 5 HR, 10 doubles, 16 RBIs - Second Team All-SEC
Linnie Malkin - .265 BA, 29 runs, 45 hits, 18 HR, 5 doubles, 45 RBIs - Second Team NFCA All-South Region

Pitching

Mary Haff - 26-7 W-L, 1.55 ERA, 15 CG, 5 saves, 198.1 IP, 198 Ks - First Team NFCA All-American, First Team All-SEC
Jenna Bloom - 8-2 WL, 4.01 ERA, 57.2 IP, 51 Ks - All-SEC Newcomer

ABOUT MEMPHIS

Head Coach: Natalie Poole (McNeese '98) - 537-601 overall (21st season)/225-302 at Memphis (11th season)
2021 Record: 9-41
2021 American Athletic Conference Record: 2-22

All-Time Series: Scarlet Knights lead 3-1

Returning Tigers:
Batting

Alyssa Dean - .300 BA, 24 runs. 39 hits, 6 HR, 7 doubles,19 RBIs - 2019 AAC All-Rookie Team
Kendall Lee - .286 BA, 18 runs, 36 hits, 5 HR, 6 doubles, 26 RBIs
LaNya Bates - .284 BA, 11 runs, 27 its, 2 doubles, 7 RBIs

Pitching

Hallie Siems - 2-9 W-L, 5.77 ERA, 2 CG, 70.1 IP, 51 Ks
Kailey Hilderbrand - 0-1 W-L, 5.89 ERA, 28.0 IP, 18 Ks

ABOUT LAMAR

Head Coach: Amy Hooks (Texas '11) - 40-89 overall (fourth season)/40-89 at Lamar (fourth season)
2021 Record: 8-43
2021 Southland Record: 4-23

All-Time Series: First Meeting

Returning Cardinals:
Batting

Audry Fleming - .265 BA, 6 runs, 18 hits, 2 HR, 4 RBIs
Aleka Xayaseng - .230 BA, 17 runs, 34 hits, 2 RBIs
Hannah Kinkade - .203 BA, 10 runs, 16 hits, 1 HR, 4 doubles, 14 RBIs

Pitching

Aaliyah Ruiz - 3-10 W-L, 5.96 ERA, 6 CG, 76.1 IP, 43 Ks
Shelby Mixon - 3-16 W-L, 6.89 ERA, 9 CG, 107.2 IP, 49 Ks

ABOUT WASHINGTON

Head Coach: Heather Tarr (Washington '98) - 706-266-1 overall (18th season)/706-266-1 at Washington (18th season)
2021 Record: 45-14
2021 PAC-12 Record: 18-5
2021 Postseason: NCAA Super Regional

All-Time Series: First Meeting

Returning Huskies:
Batting

Baylee Klingler - .416 BA, 56 runs, 72 hits, 16 HR, 17 doubles, 53 RBIs - Second Team NFCA All-American, First Team All-Pac12
Sami Reynolds - .321 BA, 55 runs, 75 hits, 1 HR, 12 doubles, 5 triples, 32 RBIs - First Team NFCA All-Pacific Region, All-Second Team All-PAC-12
Silenttrain Espinoza - .314 BA, 12 runs, 38 hits, 1 HR, 4 doubles, 11 RBIs - Second Team NFCA All-Pacific Region

Pitching

Gabbie Plain - 32-4 W-L, 1.45 ERA, 26 CG, 3 saves, 237.1 IP, 337 Ks
Kelley Lynch - 5-7 W-L, 4.50 ERA, 4 CG, 51.1 IP, 69 Ks - 4.50All-Freshman PAC-12

HOME RUN WATCH

1.	Jackie Bates (2012-15)	40
2.	Brittney Lindley (2009-12)	34
3.	Rebecca Hall (2015-18)	30
4.	Anyssa Iliopoulos (2017-21)	26
5.	Sierra Maddox (2015-18)	23
6.	Katie Wingert (2019 - present)	22
7.	Sarah Kalka (2006-09)	21
8.	Nikki Childress (2003-04)	20
9.	Jenny Card (2002-05)	19
10.	Chandler Howard (2012-15)	18

PRESEASON PREVIEW PODCAST

UP NEXT

The Rutgers softball team travels to the Pirate Clash hosted by ECU in Greenville, North Carolina. In addition to the host Pirates, the Scarlet Knights will also take the field against Wagner and Colgate.

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