Softball Downs CSUN in Extras, Falls to BYU to End Run at Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

Feb 24 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 CSUN Box Score BYU Box Score

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Rutgers softball closed out its run at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on Saturday, splitting a doubleheader with Cal State Northridge and BYU. The Scarlet Knights topped CSUN, 8-3, in a nine-inning thriller, before dropping its final game in California to the Cougars, 9-1.

The Scarlet Knights end the weekend with a 4-2 record in the event, moving them to 10-6 on the season.

RU had a strong weekend at the plate, scoring 52 runs on 56 hits and collecting 42 team RBIs.

Rutgers 8, CSUN 3

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

Morgan Smith tossed her third complete game of the season, going the full nine innings and recording five strikeouts.
The senior also had a strong performance at the plate, going 2-for-4 and smashing her third home run of the weekend.
Katie Wingert connected on her second home run of the weekend and eighth of the season. The graduate student needs just three more blasts to tie the Rutgers all-time home run record.
Kayla Bock claimed her ninth RBI of the weekend with her go-ahead RBI single in extras.
Georgia Ingle earned her first hit of the season with an RBI single.
Payton Lincavage brought in her sixth RBI of the season.

THE RUNDOWN

Payton Lincavage smacked an RBI-single to right field, giving Rutgers an early 1-0 edge in the top of the first.
After a quiet second and third innings, Katie Wingert doubled the Scarlet Knights' lead with a solo blast in the top of the fourth.
CSUN added its first pair of hits in the bottom of the fourth, getting on the board to cut RU's lead in half. The Matadors provided a game-equalizing RBI fielder's choice in the following frame.
Both teams looked to end the game in the seventh inning, but neither made it home, sending the game into extras.
The Scarlet Knights found themselves in a jam in the bottom of the eighth, with one out and a Matador on third. Kyleigh Sand kept RU alive, snagging a line drive in the air and doubling up the runner on third.
Rutgers found its spark with a six-run top of the ninth. Kayla Bock got things started with an RBI single to help RU jump in front, 3-2. Georgia Ingle kept things going with an RBI single, doubling the lead. An RBI fielder's choice from Sand and a sacrifice fly from Lauren Punk pushed the lead out to four. The Scarlet Knights were not done there, though, as Morgan Smith launched a two-run home run over the fence, breaking the game wide open.
Smith went right back to work in the circle in the bottom of the same inning, closing the door on CSUN and giving RU an 8-3 victory.

Rutgers 1, BYU 9

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

Kyleigh Sand, LA Matthews, Katie Wingert, and Payton Lincavage provided one hit apiece.
Matthews helped RU to its lone run of the contest, poking an RBI fielder's choice to score Leilani Chavez.

THE RUNDOWN

BYU capitalized on a wild pitch and knocked an RBI single to jump out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
The Cougars extended their advantage to three in the following frame with an RBI double and a three-run home run.
Rutgers was able to get on the board in the top of the third. Leilani Chavez capitalized on a throwing error by the Cougars, going from second to home on a fielder's choice hit by LA Matthews.
BYU added its seventh run of the contest in the bottom of the fourth, sending an RBI double to the wall. The Cougars then tacked on an additional tally on a passed ball.
The Cougars secured their run-rule victory in the bottom of the fifth, walking the night off with an RBI single.

UP NEXT

The Scarlet Knights will travel to Chapel Hill, N.C. for the UNC Tournament. Play is set to begin on Friday, March 1 with a doubleheader against Campbell (11:30 a.m.) and UNC (2:00 p.m.).

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