Friday, February 17
Mobile, Ala.
11:00 AM
Rutgers University
vs
Missouri State
Photo by: Ethan Mito
Softball To Spend Weekend At Mardi Gras Classic
Feb 15 | Softball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - After kicking off opening weekend 5-0, the Rutgers softball team heads off to Mobile, Alabama to play in the Mardi Gras Classic hosted by South Alabama. The Scarlet Knights will take on Missouri State, Mississippi Valley State and the host Jaguars.
Head Coach: Holly Hesse (Creighton '82) - 872-841-2 (35th season)/872-841-2 at Missouri State (35th season)
2023 Record: 0-4
All-Time Series: Rutgers Leads 5-0 (Last Meeting: W, 3-0 - Feb. 16, 2013)
Bears To Watch:
Batting
Head Coach: Jimmy Buckner (Trevecca Nazarene) - 11-29 overall (2nd season)/11-29 at Mississippi Valley State (2nd season)
2023 Record: 0-3
All-Time Series: Rutgers Leads 2-0 (Last Meeting: W, 4-3 - Feb. 12, 2012)
Devilettes To Watch:
Batting
Head Coach:Becky Clark (Mobile '95) - 496-334-1 overall (17th season)/496-334-1 at South Alabama (17th season)
2023 Record: 1-3
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Jaguars To Watch:
Batting
Rutgers softball is back to the field at the College of Charleston Tournament taking on Robert Morris, Syracuse and the host Cougars on February 24-26.
Follow Rutgers softball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
| TOURNAMENT INFO |
| Tournament: | Mardi Gras Classic Jaguar Stadium | Mobile, Alabama |
| Game Notes: | Rutgers | Missouri State | Mississippi Valley State | South Alabama |
| Statistics: | Rutgers | Missouri State | Mississippi Valley State | South Alabama | Big Ten |
| Live Stats & Video: |
Friday, Feb. 17 11:00 a.m. - Rutgers vs. Missouri State - Stats 4:00 p.m.. - Rutgers vs. Mississippi Valley State - Stats Saturday, Feb. 18 1:30 p.m. - Rutgers vs. Mississippi Valley State- Stats 6:30 p.m. - Rutgers at South Alabama - Stats | Audio (via South Alabama) Sunday, Feb. 19 12:30 p.m. - Rutgers at South Alabama - Stats | Video (ESPN +) * - All times listed ET |
| Social Media: | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |
| ABOUT THE SCARLET KNIGHTS |
- Twenty letterwinners return to the field for the Scarlet Knights in 2023 having only one starter exhaust eligibility with the roster bolstered by five newcomers.
- Rutgers opened 2023 sweeping the NorCal Kickoff wth a 5-0 record. Last year they played to a 25-30 overall record and a post-season National Invitational Softball Championship (NISC) appearance along with garnering its first-ever First Team All-Big Ten honorees and two NFCA First Team All-Region selections.
- RU made its second-ever appearance at the National Invitational Softball Championship (NISC) in 2022. The Scarlet Knights were among a record-tying eight Big Ten Teams in the postseason with Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State and Wisconsin earning NCAA berths.
- Rutgers ended nonconference play a year ago jumping out to a 21-10 record in its best start in 41 years. The Scarlet Knights also surpassed its win total from 2021 three weeks into the 2022 season.
- Among single-season leaders from 2022, First Team All-Big Ten and First Team All-Region shortstop Kyleigh Sand finished the season second in hits (68), third in runs (49), fourth in walks (33), tied for fifth in stolen bases (23) and sixth in batting average (.398). From inside the circle, left-hander Jaden Vickers' 181 strikeouts landed her fourth. As a team, RU finished the 2022 campaign with the most strikeouts in history (305), fifth in doubles (73), eighth in runs (238) and ninth in RBIs (212).
- In national stats this week, the 12 doubles racked up by the Scarlet Knights at last week's NorCal Kickoff place Rutgers third nationally in the category. Kyleigh Sand, this week's Big Ten Player of the Week, is second nationally with seven stolen bases. Freshman pitcher Raimy Gamsby is one of 102 players with a 0.00 ERA with at least one inning.
| NORCAL KICKOFF NOTES |
- Payton Lincavage moved into a tie for seventh on the all-time Rutgers career triples list in the season-opening 8-0 win over Utah Valley. She is tied along with Sarah Kalka (2006-09) as she upped her career count to six. She needs two more to move into a tie for sixth along with Rebecca Hall (2015-18).
- The Scarlet Knights took home its first season-opening victory 2012 in an 8-0 win over Utah Valley.
- Rutgers totaled six doubles in the victory over Utah Valley tying for the most in a game dating back to records since 2004. The Scarlet Knights also had six two-base hits last season against UMES (3/17/2022) as well as Brown (3/5/2011) and UC Santa Barbara (2/28/2015).
- Kyleigh Sand's four stolen bases in an 8-2 victory over Santa Clara were the most by a Scarlet Knight in records dating back to 2004. Sand's four thefts were the most since fellow teammate Taylor Lane's three against Texas A&M Corpus Christi back on March 1, 2020.
- Payton Lincavage totaled five RBIs in an 8-5 win against Seattle becoming 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).
- Raimy Gamsby made her collegiate debut inside the circle last weekend with two starts tossing 7.2 innings with no earned runs, eight strikeouts and a victory over Sacramento State. She allowed only five hits in facing 31 batters. The right-hander made her first Scarlet Knight appearance in RU's 8-2 win over Santa Clara – the second contest of opening day. She threw 2.1 innings giving up no earned runs and three hits while striking out three Broncos. She followed up with 5.1 innings of work in getting the win over Sacramento State giving up only two hits, fanning five and racking up 58 strikes on 89 pitches
| ABOUT MISSOURI STATE |
2023 Record: 0-4
All-Time Series: Rutgers Leads 5-0 (Last Meeting: W, 3-0 - Feb. 16, 2013)
Bears To Watch:
Batting
- Abby Ford - .500 BA, 1 run, 2 hits
- Kenzie Derryberry - .222 BA, 1 run, 2 hits
- Kelsie Lewis - .222, 2 hits
- Mackenzie Chacon - 0-1 W-L, 3.00 ERA, 4.2 IP, 5 Ks
- McKenzie Vaughan - 0-1 W-L, 6.00 ERA, 1 CG, 7.0 IP, 4 Ks
- Gracie Johnston - 0-1 W-L, 8.40 ERA, 5.0 IP, 2 Ks
| ABOUT MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE |
2023 Record: 0-3
All-Time Series: Rutgers Leads 2-0 (Last Meeting: W, 4-3 - Feb. 12, 2012)
Devilettes To Watch:
Batting
- Jade Smith - .286 BA, 1 run, 2 hits
- Kathleen Sims - .143 BA, 1 hit
- Morgan Guiterrez - 0-2 W-L, 13.30 ERA, 10.0 IP, 1 K
- Gleenabah Tsosie - 0-1 W-L, 19.25 ERA, 4.0 IP
| ABOUT SOUTH ALABAMA |
2023 Record: 1-3
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Jaguars To Watch:
Batting
- Meredith Keel - .417 BA, 1 run, 5 hits, 1 double, 2 RBIs
- Mackenzie Brasher - .357 BA, 4 runs, 5 hits, 1 RBI
- Odalys Cordova - .333 BA, 4 hits, 1 double, 1 RBI
- Jenna Hardy - 1-1 W-L, 3.06 ERA, 17.2 IP, 15 Ks
- Olivia Lackie - 0-2 W-L, 5.91 ERA, 10.2 IP, 9 Ks
| B1G PLAYER OF THE WEEK |
- Junior shortstop Kyleigh Sand was named the Big Ten Player of the Week, it was announced Monday. Sand hit .611 (11-for-18) with eight runs, 3 RBIs and seven stolen bases as Rutgers was the only squad in the Big Ten with an unblemished record out of the season-opening weekend.
- The Scarlet Knight kicked off the season going 2-for-4 with two runs in an 8-0 victory over Utah Valley on Friday. She followed hitting 3-for-3, two runs, an RBI and four stolen bases in an 8-2 win against Santa Clara. Sand's four stolen bases were the most by a Scarlet Knight in records dating back to 2004.
- On Saturday, Sand continued with a 3-of-4 performance with a double in an 8-5 win versus Seattle adding a run and an RBI and two more stolen bases. The Scarlet Knights junior was then 1-for-4 tacking on a run, RBI and another stolen base in a 5-1 victory over host UC Davis giving Rutgers its best season-opening record in 30 years.
- Sand led Rutgers to the NorCal Kickoff sweep on Sunday going 2-for-3 with a run scored over host Sacramento State. The shortstop broke a scoreless stalemate in the top of the sixth in a 2-1 win.
- The RU shortstop is on a 13-game hitting streak dating back to last season and has reached base safely in 41 consecutive games. Sand is also one stolen base away from cracking the Rutgers Top 10 in the category with 30 early in her second season with the Scarlet Knights.
- The award marks Sand's second Big Ten Player of the Week accolade. She also earned the honor last season following RU's 5-1 record in their first home weekend of the season hitting .619 (13-for-21) with 10 runs and eight RBIs and perfect 6-for-6 on stolen bases.
| ALL-TIME RUTGERS LEADERS WATCH LISTS |
| All-Time Home Runs | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Jackie Bates (2012-15) | 40 |
| 2. | Brittney Lindley (2009-12) | 34 |
| 3. | Rebecca Hall (2015-18) | 30 |
| 4. | Anyssa Iliopoulos (2017-21) | 26 |
| 5t. | Sierra Maddox (2015-18) | 23 |
| 5t. | Katie Wingert (2019 - present) | 23 |
| 7. | Sarah Kalka (2006-09) | 21 |
| 8. | Nikki Childress (2003-04) | 20 |
| 9. | Jenny Card (2002-05) | 19 |
| 10. | Chandler Howard (2012-15) | 18 |
| All-Time Triples | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Juliette Brooks (1996-99) | 22 |
| 2. | Michelle Nikolayew (1993-96) | 19 |
| 3. | Carla Camino (1990-93) | 16 |
| 4. | Renee Clark (1984-87) | 14 |
| 5. | Laurie McMahon (1988-91) | 14 |
| 6. | Rebecca Hall (2015-18) | 9 |
| 7t. | Sarah Kalka (2006-09) | 6 |
| 7t. | Payton Lincavage | 6 |
| 8t. | Amanda Shaw (2020-present) | 5 |
| 8t. | Stephanie Huang (2013-16) | 5 |
| All-Time Strikeouts | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Alyssa Landrith (2013-15) | 642 |
| 2. | Leah Black (2000-04) | 518 |
| 3. | Kelly Gallagher (1985-88) | 433 |
| 4. | Nikki Ambruso (1989-92) | 392 |
| 5. | Nicole Lindley (2007-10) | 361 |
| 6. | Jaden Vickers (2020 - present) | 280 |
| 7. | Ashley Hitchcock (2020 - present) | 273 |
| 8. | Chrissy Yard (2006-09) | 248 |
| 9. | Dresden Maddox (2013-16) | 241 |
| 10. | Sharon Martin (1980-83) | 204 |
| All-Time Stolen Bases | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Karen Pelkey (1995-99) | 105 |
| 2. | Brittney Neer (2001-04) | 93 |
| 3. | Loren Williams (2013-14) | 55 |
| 4. | Carla Camino (1990-93) | 52 |
| 5. | Quyen Tran (1997-2000) | 45 |
| 6. | Amanda Shaw (2006-09) | 43 |
| 7. | Brittney Lindley (2009-12) | 40 |
| 8. | Laurie McMahon (1988-91) | 38 |
| 9. | Lindsey Curran (2009-12) | 32 |
| 10t. | Jen Harabedian (2010-13) | 31 |
| 10t. | Jess Hughes (2018-19) | 31 |
| -- | Kyleigh Sand (2022-present) | 30 |
| UP NEXT |
Rutgers softball is back to the field at the College of Charleston Tournament taking on Robert Morris, Syracuse and the host Cougars on February 24-26.
Follow Rutgers softball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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