MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – RBI base hits from Katie Wingert and Leilani Chavez broke a scoreless stalemate in the top of the sixth as the Rutgers softball team defeated Minnesota in the series opener on Friday at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium.

The victory upped RU's record to 28-18 overall and 9-6 in the Big Ten. Minnesota fell to 22-20 overall and 8-7 in league action. It was the Scarlet Knights' sixth shutout win of the season.

Rutgers 3, Minnesota 0

• Mattie Boyd threw her 16^th complete game of the season and improved her record to 6-7 inside the circle. She gave up six hits, none for extra bases, two walks and stuck out a pair of Gophers.
• Katie Wingert and Leilani Chavez each had RBI singles in the sixth while Maddie Lawson added an RBI bases-loaded walk in the seventh.
• Wingert's RBI moved her into a tie for second on the Rutgers career RBI leader list. She needs three more to surpass Sharron Morris (1993-96) as the Scarlet Knights' all-time leader.
• Jillian Anderson was 2-for-3 with a run scored.

• The game was scoreless until the top of the sixth. Morgan Smith walked, advanced to second on a groundout from Maddie Lawson and reached third on a single by Payton Lincavage. With runners on the corners, Katie Wingert delivered the first of back-to-back Scarlet Knight RBI singles. Her base hit to left scored Smith, while Leilani Chavez found centerfield to plate Lincavage for a 2-0 edge.
• Jillian Anderson and LA Matthews both singled to center field and RU loaded the bases on another Smith walk. Ball four on consecutive pitches for Lawson resulted in the junior Scarlet Knight scoring Smith to give her team a 3-0 lead.
• The RU defense sent down the Gophers 1-2-3 in the second, third and fifth innings.

• The Rutgers-Minnesota series continues on Saturday, April 20 at 2 p.m. (ET).