LYNCHBURG, Va. -- The Rutgers softball team had to adjust its schedule on Friday and took on host Liberty for the second-straight day at the Liberty Softball Invitational. The Flames once again got on the scoreboard early ultimately leading to a 9-1 win over the Scarlet Knights.
 
Rutgers fell to 11-6 overall. Liberty, winners in 11 of their last 12 contests with a vote in the USA Today/NFCA Poll, improved to 11-6 overall.
 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Rutgers, who was shutout in Thursday's Liberty Softball Invitational opener against the Flames, got three hits against McKenzie Wagoner. Wagoner went 5-2 as freshman including 10 scoreless innings during the ASUN Tournament along with a one-hit appearance in the NCAA Regionals.
• Gabrielle Callaway with 1-for-2 on the day driving in Kiersten Withstandley for RU's lone run.
• Kayla Bock and Payton Lincavage generated the Scarlet Knights' other two hits.

THE RUNDOWN

• The hosts went up early again. Caroline Hudson had a two-run home run to left and a fielding error allowed another run to score for Liberty to go up 3-0 at the end of one.
• Raigan Barrett reached base after getting hit by a pitch and added a run off Hudson's double to center in the second.
• Rutgers collected a run in the top of the third. Payton Lincavage put Kiersten Withstandley into scoring position with the Scarlet Knights' first hit against the Flames with two outs. Gabrielle Callaway followed ripping the ball up the middle past Liberty's diving second baseman allowing Withstandley to round third and give the Scarlet Knights the run.
• The Flames responded by adding another three runs in the bottom of the inning. A miscue at first would allow Rachel Roupe to score while Rachel Craine executed an RBI double to right-center and a Devyn Howard base hit gave Liberty a 7-1 edge.
• A bases-loaded double from Alexis Soto drove in another two runs in the bottom of the fifth to end the game.

UP NEXT

The Liberty Softball Invitational schedule has been updated. The new schedule will have Rutgers facing James Madison on Saturday, March 5 at 10 a.m. The Scarlet Knights will then have two games on Sunday, March 6 taking on Notre Dame at 11 a.m. and George Washington at 1 p.m.

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