DAVIS, Calif. – The Rutgers softball team is off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 1993.

The Scarlet Knights earned an 8-5 victory over Seattle and picked up a 5-1 win over Saturday's host UC Davis on day two of the NorCal Kickoff.

Rutgers 8, Seattle 5

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Payton Lincavage poured in 5 RBIs going 3-for-4 with a three-run home run.
• Kyleigh Sand also went 3-for-4 against the Redhawks, including a double, an RBI and two runs scored along with a pair of stolen bases.
• Ashley Hitchcock picked up her first victory of the year inside the circle throwing the final three innings. Morgan Smith got the start and registered a pair of strikeouts.

THE RUNDOWN

• Rutgers took a 1-0 in the first inning for another early Scarlet Knight lead. The bases were loaded for Calista Collins to walk in Morgan Smith for her first collegiate RBI.
• Seattle knotted the score at 1-1 in the top of the second. Jocelynn De La Cruz led off with a single while Mekenzie Modokora pinch running rounded the bases to come home on a wild pitch.
• The Scarlet Knights took back the lead in the third with a three-run bomb off the bat of Payton Lincavage.
• A run in the top of the fourth and three hits leading to a pair of runs in the fifth tied the game up. The Redhawk's  De La Cruz punched in a run off a double in the fourth and a solo home run by Walling to lead off the fifth along with an RBI double from Olivia Viggiano equaled the score at 4-4.
• The Scarlet Knights came up with four runs on five hits in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead for good. Leilani Chavez kicked off a string of four-straight hits for RU. Chavez's base hit to left field put Rutgers back on top while insurance runs were added on an RBI double to left center from Kyleigh Sand and a two-RBI single to center by Lincavage.
• Seattle drove in a run with two outs in the seventh. Wilson singled to center, but Morgan Smith was able to send in the ball to Lincavage to tag out another potential run at third and end the game.

KNIGHT NOTES

• Payton Lincavage is the third Scarlet Knight on the current roster to post five RBIs in a game. Kayla Bock captured five against George Washington (3/6/22) and Katie Wingert punched in five against Morgan State (3/16/19).
• Lincavage's home run was the 10th of her career and the second for the Scarlet Knights in 2023.

Rutgers 5, UC Davis 1

 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Jaden Vickers captured the complete game victory striking out eight, including five Aggies swinging, for her first win in 2023.
• Seven different Scarlet Knights captured a hit in the win with Taylor Fawcett, Maddie Lawson, Leilani Chavez, Kyleigh Sand and Payton Lincavage helping RU to a 5-0 lead in the second inning.
• Doubles belonged to Lawson and Lincavage.

THE RUNDOWN

• Five-straight hits led to a 5-0 lead for the Scarlet Knights in the top of the second. The scoring barrage began with an RBI single by Taylor Fawcett into left, continued with a run-scoring double from Maddie Lawson and was followed by an RBI triple by Leilani Chavez. The top of the order returned to the plate for two more runs off a single by Kyleigh Sand and a double from Payton Lincavage.
• UC Davis got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning. The Aggies used back-to-back doubles to score a run. The side was retired, however, on the next three batters with two strikeouts from Jaden Vickers and a line-drive grab by Calista Collins at first. 

KNIGHT NOTES

• With three stolen bases on the day, Kyleigh Sand has totaled 30 in her two years as a Scarlet Knight and is one stolen base away from joining the RU career top 10 in the category. With one more stolen base she will move into a tie with Jen Harbedian (2010-13) and Jess Hughes (2018-19) for 10th and needs two more to tie for ninth along with Lindsey Curran (2009-12).
• Sand is also riding a 12-game hitting streak dating back to last season into the final day of the NorCal Kickoff. She has reached base in 40 consecutive games.

UP NEXT

The Rutgers softball team closes out its west coast appearance on Sunday against Sacramento State. First pitch is set for 12:30 p.m. (ET).

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