Rutgers University
2-1
South Alabama
2-1
Softball Splits Day Two Of NFCA Leadoff Classic
Feb 07 | Softball
CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Rutgers softball team split day two of the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Saturday afternoon.
The Scarlet Knights walked it off in the sixth inning in an 11-3 victory over South Alabama to open the day. RU pulled within a run and had two aboard in the bottom of the seventh against defending Southland Conference Champions, Southeastern Louisiana, but fell to the Lions, 4-3.
Rutgers moved to 2-2 on the season.
Rutgers 11, South Alabama 3
| STATISTICALLY SPEAKING |
- Sophomore right-hander Kelsey Hoekstra garnered her second win of the season going four scoreless innings, allowing six hits and striking out four. At the plate, Hoekstra was 2-for-3 with a two RBI double to put RU on top in their first at-bat.
- Senior Siera Hoekstra was 2-for-2 with a two-run walk-off single in the sixth.
- Sophomore Addie Osborne notched a two-run double and scored on Hoekstra's walk-off.
- Sophomore Baileigh Burtis was 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.
| THE RUNDOWN |
- Rutgers plated four runs in its first at-bat and never looked back. Kelsey Hoekstra and Addie Osborne collected back-to-back two-run doubles to get the Scarlet Knights started in the first.
- The second inning saw RU add another trio of runs for a 7-0 lead. Baileigh Burtis knocked in a run on a single to left. Two more runs came in on Mia Mitchell's trip to the plate with two outs. Mitchell delivered a hard hit to third, scoring Riley Hwang, and a miscue by the Lions' shortstop gave Burtis the opportunity to come home.
- A three-run home run by South Alabama's Oliva Branstetter put the Jaguars on the board in the top of the fifth.
- RU responded by generating four runs in the sixth for the run-rule win. The Scarlet Knights registered three-straight hits with pinch hitter Etta Garofalo singling down the right field line for a run. Another Jaguar error from the infield allowed Hoekstra to score on the play to give Rutgers a 9-3 advantage. Three batters later, the bases were loaded for Siera Hoekstra to place the ball into left-center, scoring Addie Osborne, with Jayla Fuller beating out the throw from the outfield at home for the final margin.
Southeastern Louisiana 4, Rutgers 3
| STATISTICALLY SPEAKING |
- Sophomore Kelsey Hoekstra went 2-for-3 at designated hitter, knocking in a run for the early 1-0 lead in the first, along with a double.
- Rutgers, which outhit Southeastern Louisiana 8-7, also saw hits from six other Scarlet Knights.
- Junior Brooke Shifflett dropped to 0-2 on the year, giving up two earned runs on three hits. Sophomore Kassandra Gewecke tossed 5.2 innings with one run on four hits while fanning three.
| THE RUNDOWN |
- It was Kelsey Hoekstra once again giving Rutgers the lead in their first appearance at the plate. With two outs, Hoekstra delivered her older sister Siera home from second base on a single to right.
- The Lions punched back, though, in the top of the second with three runs on three hits. A wild pitch gave Southeastern Louisiana the opportunity to score and tie the game, while a pair of RBI singles from Shenita Tucker and Shelby Morris put the Lions in front 3-1.
- The following inning, Southeastern Louisiana extended its lead to 4-1. While Jayla Fuller made a diving catch through the temporary fence to thwart Ka'Lyn Watson from a home run, Cydnee Schneider tagged up at third for the run.
- The bottom half of the third, however, saw RU pull within a run. With two outs, Stephanie Kraska singled to right field while pinch runner Samantha Delhoyo used her wheels to score from first. Sam Rohwer followed with a single to right, but a bobble in the outfield allowed pinch runner Makenna Coleman to continue on to home for the Scarlet Knights to trail 4-3.
- Rutgers had a runner on third in the bottom of the fifth, but the Lions executed a double play at first and home to retire the side.
- The Scarlet Knights had the tying run on second and the go-ahead on first, but Southeastern Louisiana was able to hold on for the win.
| UP NEXT |
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hoekstra, Kelsey (2-0)
L: Scapin, Sydney (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Branstetter, Olivia 1 ; Stagner, Lillie 1
HR: Branstetter, Olivia 1
RBI: Branstetter, Olivia 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Lively, Presley 1 ; McDonald, Gracie 1 ; Branstetter, Olivia 1
Batting:
2B: Hoekstra, Kelsey 1 ; Osborne, Addie 1
RBI: Burtis, Baileigh 1 ; Hoekstra, Kelsey 2 ; Osborne, Addie 2 ; Garofalo, Etta 1 ; Mitchell, Mia 1 ; Hoekstra, Siera 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Rohwer, Sam 1 ; Hwang, Riley 2 ; Burtis, Baileigh 2 ; Schuettler, Charleigh 1 ; Hoekstra, Kelsey 2 ; Osborne, Addie 1 ; Fuller, Jayla 1 ; Briggs, Bailey 1
HBP: Burtis, Baileigh 1 ; Hoekstra, Kelsey 1 ; Fuller, Jayla 1
