Softball Falls to Wisconsin

Friday, May 1

Piscataway, N.J.

3:00 PM

Rutgers University

28-18, 10-11

Wisconsin

20-30, 4-16

Wisconsin

Rutgers

May 01 | Softball

Box Score

May 1, 2015

Final Stats

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (May 1, 2015) -- The Rutgers softball team opened its series against Wisconsin with a 5-1 loss on Friday afternoon at the RU Softball Complex.

The Scarlet Knights fell to an overall mark of 28-18 and a Big Ten record of 10-11, while Wisconsin improved to 20-30 overall and 4-16 mark in the league.

A total of six Scarlet Knights registered at least one of RU's eight hits. Senior Chandler Howard (North Wilmington, Del.) led RU with a game-high three hits in four at bats and registered the Scarlet Knights lone run of the day.

Senior Alyssa Landrith (Vacaville, Calif.) opened the game striking out four consecutive Badgers before surrendering a hit in the top of the second. Landrith would go on to strand that runner on by sending her fifth batter down swinging to end the frame.

In the top of the fourth, Wisconsin registered the first runs of the day via a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly to generate a 2-0 lead. However, Landrith retired the next two batters at the plate to end the top half of the inning.

Freshman Sierra Maddox (Kennesaw, Ga.) led off the bottom of the fourth, drilling a single down the left field line. Junior Melanie Slowinski (Severn, Md.) kept things rolling with a base hit of her own to center field. Despite the offensive burst, RU stranded both runners on to end in the inning.

Although the Scarlet Knight offense struggled to get the gears turning, Landrith remained strong in the circle. The senior lefty struck out two consecutive batters to close the top of the fifth, denying two potential Badger runs.

With the score still 2-0, Landrith worked a 1-2-3 inning to open the sixth, re-setting her season-high with her 12^th strikeout of the day.

In the bottom of the sixth, sophomore Carly Todd (Deptford, N.J.) kept the inning alive, working a two-out walk. Junior Elizabeth Adams (Crystal Lake, Ill.) followed with a hit to right field. Classmate Stephanie Huang (Paramus, N.J.) connected on the pitch, but Taylor-Paige Stewart scuffed the hit, setting up a play for Megan Tancil to register the third out at second base.

Wisconsin extended its lead to 5-0 in the top of the seventh via a two-RBI double from Chloe Miller and a Rutgers miscue.

RU loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning, but only one run would cross the plate.

The Scarlet Knights and the Badgers return to action on Saturday at 1 p.m. Bates, Landrith and Howard will be honored in a pre-game Senior Day ceremony. The contest also marks RU's Friends of Jaclyn Day. Fans are encouraged to wear grey for cancer awareness. For more information about FOJ day, click here.

KNIGHT NOTES

Alyssa Landrith tied her season-high with 13 strikeouts in the contest. She brought her Rutgers record to 633 career strikeouts.
Jackie Bates registered her 35^th walk of the year, claiming second on the Rutgers' single-season list.
Bates extended her reached base streak to 14 consecutive games.
Stephanie Huang and Sierra Maddox extended their hit streaks to eight straight contests.

Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers softball, follow the program on Twitter (@RUSoftball) and Instagram (@RU_Softball). The team is also on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersSB).

- RU-