Softball Takes Off For Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

Thursday, February 22

Cathedral City, Calif.

3:00 PM

Rutgers University

Hawaii

Kobie Hura making a throw in from right field in the Rutgers vs. No. 10 Duke softball game at the Panther Invitational

Photo by: Peter McMahon

Softball Takes Off For Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

Feb 20 | Softball

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers softball is making the first of its two trips to California this season heading this weekend to the prestigious Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.

TOURNAMENT INFO

Tournament:	MARY NUTTER COLLEGIATE CLASSIC Cathedral City, California \| Big League Dreams Complex
Game Notes:	Rutgers \| Hawaii \| UC Riverside \| LMU \| Cal Poly \| CSUN \| BYU
Statistics:	Ru tgers \| Hawaii \| UC Riverside \| LMU \| Cal Poly \| CSUN \| BYU \| Big Ten
Live Stats & Video:	Thursday, Feb. 22 3 p.m. - Rutgers vs. Hawaii - Watch 7:30 p.m. - Rutgers vs. UC Riverside - Watch Friday, Feb. 23 1 p.m. - Rutgers vs. LMU - Watch 4 p.m. - Rutgers vs. Cal Poly - Watch Saturday, Feb. 24 5:30 p.m. - Rutgers vs. CSUN - Watch 11 p.m. - Rutgers vs. BYU - Watch * - All times listed ET
Social Media:	Facebook \| Twitter \| Instagram

ABOUT THE SCARLET KNIGHTS

Rutgers heads into its third weekend of play with a 6-4 overall record having gone 4-1 at the Houston Invitational to open up the 2024 campaign and more recently coming off a 2-3 weekend at the Panther Invitational in Miami.
RU posted two shutout wins against Army last weekend with Mattie Boyd collecting her first career no-hitter in a 2-0 tournament-opening victory over Army. Boyd also pitched the second game against the Black Knights earning a shared shutout with Laurelai DePew, who made her debut as a Scarlet Knight in the circle.
Rutgers held a 1-0 lead on No. 10 Duke thru four innings of play before the Blue Devils tied the game with a run in the fifth. Duke ultimately took the victory with three runs in the top of the seventh.
The Scarlet Knights also dropped a pair of late leads in games with FIU falling 4-3 in the final game of round-robin play and a 3-2 extra inning setback in the opening game of bracket play before rebounding with a run-rule 9-0 victory over Army to close out the weekend in Florida.
On the stat sheet, Katie Wingert leads RU at the plate hitting .433 with a nation-leading six home runs to go along with eight runs, three doubles, 14 RBIS and a 1.133 slugging percentage. She is currently second all-time at Rutgers in home runs needing five more to tie as the all-time leader.
Inside the circle, Mattie Boyd is holding down a 1.33 ERA with a 4-1 record having racked up 28 strikeouts in 26.1 innings.
Dual threat Morgan Smith is hitting .333 along with a 2.05 ERA and 26 strikeouts.
Kyleigh Sand also continues to lead off leading RU with 12 runs while ranking fourth all-time in steals having gone 5-5 this season.

PANTHER INVITATIONAL RECAP

Rutgers softball split day one of the Panther Invitational with a no-hitter against Army West Point and a loss to No. 10 Duke with the two squads coming in tied 1-1 into the game's final inning.
The Scarlet Knights opened the tournament with a 2-0 victory over the Black Knights behind a no-hitter from Mattie Boyd.
RU went in front against the top ten Blue Devils early as Katie Wingert's sixth home run in seven games put RU up after two innings. Duke, however, tied the game up in the fifth on a home run of their own and added three unearned runs in the seventh to avoid an upset loss.
Rutgers dropped a pair of contests with host FIU on day two. FIU topped RU in game one, 4-3 and got past the Scarlet Knights in extra innings, 3-2, in bracket play in the No. 2 vs No. 3 game.
In game one, Morgan Smith went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs while Kyleigh Sand was 1-for-3 with two runs and moved into a tie for fourth on the career stolen base leaders list. LA Matthews was 1-for-2 with an RBI. Mattie Boyd, meanwhile, went 5.1 innings in her first loss of the season with two strikeouts.
In game two, Morgan Smith made it back-to-back games a home run and added a double while tossing a complete game with four strikeouts. She was responsible for both RU's runs scored. She dropped to 2-2 in the circle.
Rutgers softball closed out its trip to the Panther Invitational with a run-rule shutout of Army, 9-0. Mattie Boyd got the win in the circle while Katie Wingert had hits on all three trips to the plate and knocked in a pair of runs. Wingert was 3-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. The Scarlet Knight catcher also posted her third double of the season. Kyleigh Sand collected a triple, two runs scored and a pair of stolen bases. Kobie Hura was also responsible for a pair of runs coming across home plate. Boyd tossed three innings with four strikeouts as she improved to 4-1 inside the circle.

HOUSTON INVITATIONAL RECAP

Rutgers softball celebrated opening day 2024 with a pair of victories. The Scarlet Knights took down Colgate 9-1 in a run-rule five-inning contest and wrapped up the day powering to a 14-5 victory against Indiana State.
Katie Wingert managed home runs in both contests to move into third all-time at Rutgers in the category while Kyleigh Sand's five runs scored against the Sycamores tied for the most runs in a game in records dating back to 2004.
In the 9-1 win over Colgate, Mattie Boyd made her Rutgers debut inside the circle allowing only one hit while racking up 11 strikeouts. Kayla Bock was 2-for-2 with 3 RBIs, while Both LA Matthews and Payton Lincavage were 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Katie Wingert gave RU its first home run of the year with a two-run shot to move up on the Rutgers all-time list on her second pitch of the year leading to a 4-1 lead for the Scarlet Knights at the end of one.
In game two, a 14-5 win over Indiana State, Kyleigh Sand ended the night going 3-for-5 with five runs and three RBIs. Sand's five runs scored were the most since Stephanie Huang's five scored in a 22-17 win over Michigan State on April 4, 2015. Sand's and Huang's five runs are the most by a Scarlet Knight in a single game in stats dating back to 2004. Adding to the victory was LA Matthews with another strong performance at the plate also going 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs while adding a pair of runs. Maddie Lawson went 2-for-3 with a career-high three runs and two RBIs. Meanwhile, Katie Wingert's first plate appearance of the game resulted in another two-run home run. Morgan Smith got the win by tossing 4.0 innings with seven strikeouts while adding a two-RBI double. Georgia Ingle threw the final three innings to garner the save, the third of her career.
On day two, Katie Wingert added three more home runs and five more RBIs in helping lead Rutgers softball to a 4-0 start with a 10-2 victory over the host Cougars and a 7-4 win against Colgate. Mattie Boyd and Morgan Smith both pitched complete game victories while the Scarlet Knight bats produced 26 hits in the day's two games.
In the first game of day two RU was down early against Houston with the Cougars taking a 2-0 lead in their first at-bat before Rutgers took the lead in the third scoring 10 unanswered runs. Katie Wingert made it the third-straight game with a dinger and ended the game 3-for-4. Morgan Smith posted her first home run of the season and totaled a team-leading three runs. Altogether, 10 different Scarlet Knights registered a hit. Mattie Boyd registered her second-straight complete game allowing two runs on three hits along with a pair of strikeouts to improve to 2-0 inside the circle.
The Scarlet Knights overcame a 4-0 deficit in game two of day two versus Colgate tying up the game in the top of the fifth and getting three runs in the sixth to take the lead. Katie Wingert helped Rutgers come from behind with a 3-for-3 performance including a pair of home runs and three RBIs to move into a tie for second-all time at Rutgers. Morgan Smith got the win inside the circle tossing a complete game with six strikeouts to up her mark to 2-0 while going 3-for-3 at the plate with her first home run of the season. Kyleigh Sand and LA Matthews also had a pair of hits in the win.
Rutgers dropped the finale, a 6-3 decision, to Houston. Kayla Bock led RU going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs, while Katie Wingert was 1-for-4 with a double. Georgia Ingle made her first career start going 3.2 innings.

B1G AWARDS

Katie Wingert was named Big Ten Player of the Week and Louisville Slugger/Wilson Selected Top Performer on Feb. 13 after helping Rutgers to a 4-1 opening weekend hitting .444 with five home runs going long in four of five games to move into second all-time at Rutgers in home runs. She also added eight hits, five runs and 10 RBIs and held down a 1.333 slugging percentage in wins over Houston, Colgate and Indiana State.
Wingert opened the weekend taking her second pitch of the 2024 season deep for a two-run shot and a lead RU would not relinquish in a 9-1 run-rule victory over Colgate.
Game two saw Wingert with a 3-run blast in her first plate appearance in RU's 14-5 win over Indiana State.
The home runs continued for Wingert on day two with three total. She went 3-for-4 smacking her first pitch of the third inning over the wall to give Rutgers the lead at 3-2 in the eventual 10-2 victory versus weekend host Houston. Wingert followed with two more dingers in the game that immediately followed in a 7-4 victory over Colgate. Wingert initiated RU's comeback from a four-run deficit with a solo long ball in the third. After RU took the lead in the sixth, Wingert added some cushion with a two-run bomb.
Her streak of home runs marked the second time Katie Wingert has had at least three consecutive games with home runs. She also went over the fence in consecutive games against Tennessee Tech on March 9, 2018 and Saint Joseph's on March 15, 2019 in her freshman campaign.
This marks Winger's second Big Ten Weekly Award. She was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week back on April 19, 2019 after hitting three home runs and driving six during a Big Ten series sweep of Penn State.

PRESEASON PRIMER

The Rutgers softball team returns 12 letterwinners, including seven starters, and adds seven newcomers to this year's roster.
A year ago, Rutgers picked up a 30-win season for the first time since 1994 ending the year at 32-25 overall with its best start since 1980.
The Scarlet Knights captured its first top-25 victory since 2012 with a win over #18/19 Northwestern, a team that ultimately reached the NCAA Super Regionals.
RU opened the year at 8-0 for the first time in 43 seasons and finished the nonconference schedule at 23-11.
The squad returned to the Big Ten Tournament behind a victory over No. 18/19 and Big Ten champion Northwestern, along with Big Ten series sweeps of Illinois and Maryland.
The Scarlet Knights earned five conference post-season honors with three named Second Team All-Big along with nods to third baseman Payton Lincavage, outfielder/pitcher Morgan Smith and shortstop Kyleigh Sand. Smith was also named Big Ten All-Defense. Morgan Smith and Kyleigh Sand were also named All-Region honorees
Payton Lincavage was bestowed the prestigious Rawlings Golden Glove Award as the nation's top third baseman having committed only one error the entire season.

ABOUT HAWAII

Head Coach: Bob Coolen (Wesleyan CT '80) - 1153-787-1 Overall (38th season)/ 1081-694-1 at Hawaii (33rd season)
2024 Record: 1-4
2023 Record: 30-23/14-14

All-Time Series: First Meeting

Top Rainbow Warriors:
Batting

Izabella Martinez - .545 BA, 1 run, 6 hits, 1 double, 3 RBIs
Haley Johnson - .333 BA, 4 hits, 1 double, 1 RBI
Malia Xiao Gin - .300 BA, 3 hits, 1 double, 1 RBI

Pitching

Addison Kostrencich - 1-1 W-L, 2.50 ERA, 14 IP, 6 Ks
Keyannah Campbell-Pua - 0-2 W-L, 5.25 ERA, 9.1 IP, 1 K

ABOUT UC RIVERSIDE

Head Coach: Nikki Palmer (UC San Diego '07) - 210-295 Overall (11th season)/ 165-168 at UC Riverside (8th season)
2024 Record: 3-4
2023 Record: 25-28/11-16

All-Time Series: Rutgers Trails 0-1 (Last meeting: Feb. 9, 2018 - L, 0-10)

Top Highlanders:
Batting

Nadia Witt - .522 BA, 6 runs, 12 hits, 4 doubles, 2 triples, 6 RBIs
Rebeca Cabezas - .474 BA, 2 runs, 9 hits, 1 double, 5 RBIs
Lauryn Garewal - ..375 BA, 2 runs, 9 hits, 1 double, 5 RBIs

Pitching

Briza Blanco - 2-1 W-L, 2.33 ERA, 1 save, 12.0 IP, 5 Ks
Alexis Galvan - 1-0 W-L, 5.68 ERA, 12.1 IP, 4 Ks
Maddie Heinlin - 0-3 W-L, 8.40 ERA, 10.0 IP, 4 Ks

ABOUT LMU

Head Coach: Tairia Flowers (UCLA '05) - 348-330 Overall (14th season)/ 89-67 at LMU (4th season)
2024 Record: 2-7
2023 Record: 28-22/12-3

All-Time Series: Rutgers Trails 0-2 (Last meeting: Feb, 20, 2011 - L, 4-7)

Top Lions:
Batting

Arianna Jaurequi - .316 BA, 6 hits, 1 RBI
Izzy Jamgotchian - .294 BA, 1 run, 5 hits, 3 doubles, 4 RBIs
Hayley Olivas - .250 BA, 1 run, 6 hits, 1 RBI

Pitching

Jenna Perez - 1-3 W-L, 2.90 ERA, 2 CG, 19.1 IP, 26 Ks
Savannah Hooks - 0-0 W-L, 4.04 ERA, 8.2 IP, 6 Ks
Lindsay O'Dell - 1-2 W-L, 11.2 IP, 8 Ks

ABOUT CAL POLY

Head Coach: Jenny Condon (Iowa State '91) - 377-470-1 Overall (20th season)/ 377-470-1 at LMU (20th season)
2024 Record: 7-2
2023 Record: 19-23/12-15

All-Time Series: Rutgers leads 1-0 (Last meeting: 1990 - W, 1-0)

Top Mustangs:
Batting

Jessica Clements - .531 BA, 9 runs, 17 hits, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 3 RBIs
Juju Sargent - .419 BA, 3 runs, 13 hits, 2 doubles, 5 RBIs
Xiara Diaz - .370 BA, 10 runs, 10 hits, 1 double, 4 RBIs

Pitching

Paige Maier - 3-0 W-L, 3.29 ERA, 1 CG, 1 save, 27.2 IP, 14 Ks
Kate Judy - 3-1 W-L, 1.83 ERA, 1 CG, 1 save 23 IP, 16 Ks
Sophia Ramuno - 1-1 W-L, 2.25 ERA, 1 CG, 9.1 IP, 9 Ks

ABOUT CSUN

Head Coach: Charlotte Morgan (Alabama '10) - 66-75 Overall (4th season)/66-75 at CSUN (4th season)
2024 Record: 8-1
2023 Record: 28-24/19-8

All-Time Series: Rutgers Trails 1-4 (Last meeting: March 2, 2014 - L, 5-7)

Top Matadors:
Batting

Mikayla Carman - .409 BA, 5 runs, 9 hits, 1 double, 3 RBIs
Shaylan Whatma - .391 BA, 9 runs, 9 hits, 1 double, 1 triple, 2 HRs, 4 RBIs
Alexis Chavez - .333 BA, 1 run, 8 hits, 1 double

Pitching

Lauryn Carranco - 4-1 W-L, 0.84 ERA, 2 CG, 1 shutout, 25.0 IP, 21 Ks
Isabella Alonso - 3-0 W-L, 3.33 ERA, 1 CG, 21.0 IP, 9 Ks
Alexa Ortiz - 1-0 W-L, 3.75 ERA, 1 CG, 9.1 IP, 3 Ks

ABOUT BYU

Head Coach: Gordon Eakin (Utah) - 808-374 Overall (22nd season)/ 808-374 at BYU (22nd season)
2024 Record: 8-2
2023 Record: 35-17/10-2

All-Time Series: Rutgers Trails 0-1 (Last meeting: March 11, 2022 - L, 2-11)

Top Cougars:
Batting

Maddie Bejarano - .500, 9 runs, 13 hits, 1 double, 1 HR, 11 RBIs
Lily Owens - .409 BA, 9 runs, 9 hits, 2 doubles, 3 RBIs
Violet Zavodnik - .400 BA, 9 runs, 12 hits, 3 doubles, 3 HRs, 10 RBIs

Pitching

Chloe Temples - 3-0 W-L, 2.15 ERA, 1 CG, 29.1 IP, 32 Ks
Kate Dahle - 3-1 W-L, 2.19 ERA, 16.0 IP, 20 Ks
Kaysen Korth - 1-0 W-L, 2.92 ERA, 12.0 IP, 11 Ks

UP NEXT

The Rutgers softball team is back on the East Coast for UNC's March Madness Tournament. The field includes host UNC along with Campbell, Lafayette and Rider.

Follow Rutgers softball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

- RU -