Softball Sweeps Doubleheader at FIU

Tuesday, March 15

Miami, Fla.

5:00 PM

Rutgers University

10-14

Florida International

17-11

Rutgers

FIU

Mar 15 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

March 15, 2016

Final Stats

MIAMI, FLA. (March 15, 2016) - Rutgers softball swept its doubleheader at Florida International on Tuesday night at Felsberg Field. After rallying a comeback in the seventh inning for a 4-3 win in the first game, RU run-ruled FIU, 10-1, in the second contest of the night.

RU improved to an overall record of 11-14, while FIU dropped to a mark of 17-12.

Senior Stephanie Huang (Paramus, N.J.) went 6-for-8 at the plate, including a team-high four RBIs across both games.

GAME 1: RUTGERS AT FIU - W, 4-3
Rutgers used a four-run rally in the top of the seventh to register a 4-3 comeback victory over FIU.

Freshman Whitney Jones (Santa Monica, Calif.) dealt five scoreless innings of work to earn the win (4-3), while Megan Kugelmann suffered the loss for FIU (5-2).

Senior Stephanie Huang (Paramus, N.J.) posted two doubles in the win, while junior Carly Todd (Deptford, N.J.) also added in two hits of her own.

Michaela Mills and Dani Mowry led the Panthers with two hits each in the loss.

Despite Rutgers stranding runners on in the top of the first and third, Jones held up work in the circle, retiring nine consecutive batters at the plate across the first three innings.

The Scarlet Knights found a rhythm in the top of the fourth, as sophomore Rebecca Hall (Fairfax, Va.) and senior Melanie Slowinski (Severn, Md.) led off with back-to-back hits. A two-out single for Todd would then load the bases, however, RU struggled to bring in a run.

In the bottom half of the frame, the Panthers added the first two runs of the game on four hits to take a 2-0 lead in the game.

RU's bats remained silent as FIU plated another run on four hits in the bottom of the sixth for a 3-0 advantage.

Rutgers responded with a four-run rally in the top of the seventh, which was ignited by a leadoff base hit from Todd. After two Panther miscues enabled the Scarlet Knights to load the bases, Huang connected on a double to send in two runs. Freshman Adriana Burcar (La Palma, Calif.) would also score on the play due to another FIU error, tying the score 3-3. Huang would then score on a groundout by Whitley to give RU the lead 4-3.

In the bottom of the frame, Mills used a two-out single to put the tying run on. However, Jones forced her third groundout of the inning to seal the win for RU.

GAME 2: RUTGERS AT FIU - W, 10-1
Behind a career-high four hits for Stephanie Huang and five scoreless innings of work for senior Dresden Maddox (Kennesaw, Ga.), Rutgers defeated Florida International, 10-1, in six innings.

Maddox earned the victory (3-5), walking zero batters and striking out four. Abby Summers suffered the loss for FIU (5-4).

Huang posted two singles, a double and a triple in the contest, while also adding three RBIs. Senior Jordan Whitley (Clayton, Del.) followed with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, including a double, three runs and two RBIs. Classmate Melanie Slowinski (Severn, Md.) added a triple of her own in the win.

Gabby Spallone led the Panthers with 3-for-3 at the plate, including a home run for FIU's sole run of the game.

After RU stranded two runners on in the top of the innings, a two-out solo home run for Gabby Spallone gave FIU a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.

The Scarlet Knights responded with two runs in the top of the second to claim the lead. After a walk for Todd and a hit for freshman Nicolette Anico (Liberty County, Fla.), Huang sent the first run in with a base hit. Anico would follow, crossing home during Huang's attempt to steal second, giving RU a 2-1 advantage.

Following a scoreless frame for Maddox, Whitley led off the top of the third with a single. Slowinski followed with a one-out triple to send Whitley home and extend the RU lead to 3-1.

The Scarlet Knights continued to extend their edge with three runs on four hits in the top of the fourth. After Anico posted a one-out single, Huang doubled to send her home. Whitley then followed with a double of her own to send Huang in as well. Shortly after, Whitley would score on a wild pitch to give Rutgers a 6-1 lead.

Following a scoreless fifth inning, Rutgers cushioned its lead with four runs in the sixth. After Burcar got things rolling with a single, Huang tripled to send her home extending the lead to 7-1. Rutgers would then add three more runs on two Panther miscues to push its edge to 10-1.

Maddox registered a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the sixth to secure the win.

UP NEXT
Rutgers concludes its week-long trip at the USF Spring Break Tournament from March 18-20. The Scarlet Knights will play five contests including UMass-Lowell, Lehigh, Maine, Chattanooga and Quinnipiac.

KNIGHT NOTES

Rutgers has won eight of its last 10 contests and is on a three-game winning streak.
Rutgers registered 10 runs for the second time this season. RU also posted 10 runs in its 10-3 win over Brown on March 4.
Four Scarlet Knights posted multi-hit games in game two, marking the eighth time this season RU has had three or more hitters with multiple hits.
In game two, Stephanie Huang posted a career-high four hits, including two singles, a double and a triple. It marked Huang's fifth triple of her career.
With multiple hits in both contests, Huang now has nine multi-hit contests this season.
Melanie Slowinski added her first triple of the season, marking the second triple of her career.
Jordan Whitley has registered a hit in nine of the last ten games, with her seventh multi-hit performance of the season.

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

- RU-