HOUSTON, Texas -- 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 ties for the most runs in a game in records dating back to 2004.

Rutgers 9, Colgate 1 (5)

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• 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.
• Both LA Matthews and Payton Lincavage were 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Lincavage notched a double.
• 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.

THE RUNDOWN

• The Raiders struck first opening the day by getting onto the scoreboard with a misplayed infield chopper allowing leadoff Rachel Carney to come home.
• Rutgers, however, powered in front in the bottom half of the first inning with four runs. Katie Wingert took her second pitch of the season over the fence in left for a two-run shot. Kayla Bock singled thru the left side with Payton Lincavage motoring home from second for a 3-0 lead. Then Jillian Anderson added the fourth and final run of the inning coming home after an overthrown ball to second on a Kayla Bock steal.
• The Scarlet Knights added five more runs in the bottom of the fourth extending out to a 9-1 advantage. LA Matthews was the first of five hits in the inning garnering an RBI single to center allowing a speedy Kyleigh Sand to score from second. Payton Lincavage and Jillian Anderson had back-to-back RBI singles to the outfield for another pair of runs. Kayla Bock then kicked in a two-RBI single down the right-field line.

Rutgers 14, Indiana State 5

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Kyleigh Sand ended the night going 3-for-5 with five runs and three RBIs.
• LA Matthews had 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 three runs and two RBIs.
• 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.

THE RUNDOWN

• The nightcap started off just how the opening game did with Katie Wingert blasting a two-run home run to left in the first.
• Indiana State got onto the scoreboard in their following at-bat. Leadoff Abi Chipps rounded the bases on an infield single, stolen base, wild pitch and a groundout to the circle.
• Rutgers, however, responded with five runs in the top of the second. Maddie Lawson swung for a two-RBI single with no outs while two batters later, Kyleigh Sand went deep to right-center for a 3-run shot and a 7-1 RU advantage.
• The Scarlet Knight added another two in the fourth. Sand led off with a single to left and advanced on her 50th RU stolen base and took third on a wild pitch setting up LA Matthews to send her home on a single to center. With two outs and Matthews on second, Payton Lincavage hit the ball to short where Indiana State failed to tag Matthews en route to third. Lincavage reached on and the Sycamores overthrew third allowing Matthews to give Rutgers a 9-1 edge.
• The gap was narrowed though in the bottom of the inning. Indiana State loaded the bases with no out giving Randi Jo Pryor and Kennedy Shade the opportunity for back-to-back RBI singles. Luci Kapelka followed with a sac fly in foul territory cutting the Sycamore's deficit to 9-4.
• LA Matthews came up with a two-out, two-run double in the top of the fifth scoring Maddie Lawson and Sand to put RU up 11-4.
• Indiana State took advantage of a miscue in the outfield with two outs in the bottom half of the fifth allowing a run to score to trail to 11-5.
• Rutgers' final trip to the plate resulted in a trio of runs as Morgan Smith connected on a two-RBI double to bring home Sand and Lawson while Wingert came up with a sac fly foul out to score Matthews.

KNIGHT NOTES

• Katie Wingert's pair of home runs brought her career total up to 31 moving her into third all-time. She needs three more home runs to move into a tie for second alongside Brittney Lindley (2009-12).
• Wingert totaled five RBIs on the day moving her into sixth all-time with 110 career RBIs. She needs four more to pass Mandy Craig (2008-11) for fifth.
• Kyleigh Sands' five runs scored are 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.

UP NEXT

Rutgers returns to action on day two of the Houston Invitational on Saturday meeting the host Cougars at 4:00 p.m. on Big 12 Now/ESPN+ and Colgate at 6:30 p.m.

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