CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Rutgers softball took the field for the second consecutive year at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, opening this year with a pair of top 25 SEC opponents.
The Scarlet Knights trailed 1-0 against No. 10 Arkansas heading into the fifth inning before the Razorbacks plated nine runs en route to the 10-0 run-rule victory.
In game two, RU battled No. 22 Missouri to a 1-0 loss with both squads collecting four hits apiece and Big Ten Freshman Co-Pitcher of the Week Ella Harrison reaching double-figure strikeouts for the second time in her young career.
No. 10 Arkansas 10, Rutgers 0 (5)
- Rutgers managed to strand Arkansas in scoring position in the second. The Razorbacks collected a single and double to put two aboard with no outs. Kelsey Hoesktra secured the first out with a swinging strikeout while two fly balls retired the side without any damage.
- The Razorbacks went up 1-0 in the top of the third on a solo home run off the bat of Wyckoff to right field.
- Arkansas, however, surged ahead with nine runs on six hits in the fifth. Ella McDowell started off the scoring for the Razorbacks with an RBI single and Courtney Day tacked on with a grand slam. Scoring continued as the bases were loaded for Karlie Davison to walk in a run along with runs on an error and a passed ball. The Razorbacks plated their final run of the inning on a sac fly from Kailey Wyckoff.
No. 22 Missouri 1, Rutgers 0
- Reigning Big Ten Co-Pitcher of the Week Ella Harrison sent down 10 Tigers on strikes marking the second time this season she's reached double-figure Ks. She dropped to 3-4 on the season.
- Both teams managed four hits off each other with senior Jillian Anderson, redshirt sophomores Bailey Briggs and Gaelen Kelly and redshirt freshman Stephanie Kraska securing base hits.
- The Tigers broke the scoreless stalemate in the bottom of the fifth. Madison Uptegrove singled to left and advanced to second on a wild pitch setting herself up to become the RBI on Saniya Hill's double to left with two outs.
- Rutgers had a chance to tie in the sixth with a pair of runners in scoring position. Hwang hit a chopper past first base and took the extra base in Stephanie Kraska's single to left. Kraska did not remain on first for very long as the go-ahead run stole second. Missouri, however, retired the side with a strikeout at the plate.
Rutgers softball continues play at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on Friday with No. 7 Tennessee at 1:30 p.m. (ET) and Bethune Cookman at 3:30 p.m. (ET). Games will be streamed on Flosoftball with live results available on statbroadcast.com.
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