Rutgers Softball Tops UMass Lowell, Falls to Lehigh

Friday, March 18

Clearwater, Fla.

11:45 AM

Rutgers University

12-15

Lehigh

13-4

Lehigh

Rutgers

Rutgers Softball Tops UMass Lowell, Falls to Lehigh

Mar 18 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

March 18, 2016

Final Stats

CLEARWATER, FLA. (March 18, 2016) - The Rutgers softball team split its games on day one at the USF Spring Break Tournament in Clearwater, Fla. RU first topped UMass Lowell by a score of 2-1 before falling to Lehigh, 10-5.

Rutgers moved to an overall record of 12-15 on the season, while UMass Lowell fell to a mark of 4-15 overall and Lehigh improved to a record of 10-5.

GAME 1: RUTGERS VS. UMASS LOWELL - PDF
Rutgers extended its win streak to four with a 2-1 win over UMass Lowell.

Senior Dresden Maddox (Kennesaw, Ga.) earned the win for Rutgers, dealing a season-high seven strikeouts through five scoreless innings. Kaysee Talcik suffered loss for the River Hawks.

Four different Scarlet Knights registered a hit in the win, led by senior Jordan Whitley (Clayton, Del.) and sophomore Rebecca Hall (Fairfax, Va.) each with a double.

The River Hawks were paced by Madison Alcorn with a game-high two hits.

UMass Lowell scored the game's first run in the bottom of the first on four hits to take a 1-0 lead.

As the RU bats got off to a slow start, UMass Lowell put two runners on with two hits in the bottom of the second. Maddox entered the circle, striking out the first two batters she faced to end the inning unharmed.

Following a scoreless third inning for either side, Rutgers tied up the score with a run in the top of the fourth. Hall led off the inning with a double and senior Elizabeth Adams (Crystal Lake, Ill.) sent her in to balance the score, 1-1.

Maddox followed with consecutive 1-2-3 innings to keep the score knotted 1-1.

In the top of the sixth, senior Melanie Slowinski (Severn, Md.) led off the frame with a single. After junior Bridget Carr (Pequannock, N.J.) joined her on base, Slowinski would advance to third on a sac fly. Despite Slowinski getting out on the following play, Carr advanced to third, ultimately stealing home to give Rutgers a 2-1 lead in the game.

Although Dresden Maddox retired two consecutive batters to begin the bottom half of the sixth, the River Hawks loaded the bases on a hit and two walks. Maddox never let up, registering a strikeout for the final out to escape the frame and hold the Scarlet Knights 2-1 edge in tact.

Maddox went on to retire three straight batters at the plate in the seventh to secure the win.

GAME TWO: RUTGERS VS. LEHIGH - PDF
Despite a late two-run home run for sophomore Sierra Maddox (Kennesaw, Ga.), Rutgers was unable to reclaim a lead, falling to Lehigh, 10-5.

After trailing 2-1 to start the game, Rutgers went on to add two runs in the bottom of the second to take a 3-2 lead. However, Lehigh added a six-run inning in the top of the fourth en route to a 10-3 lead. Sierra Maddox posted a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth, but it was not enough to ignite a comeback.

Senior Stephanie Huang (Paramus, N.J.) led the team with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate, including a double. Melanie Slowinski and freshman Nicolette Anico (Liberty County, Fla.) followed with two hits each in the loss.

Lehigh's Morgan Decker registered a game-high four hits in the win, while Ashley Quidolit followed with three of her own.

The Mountain Hawks used three hits in the top of the first to cruise to an early 2-0 lead. The Scarlet Knights responded with a run on a hit and an error in the bottom of the frame to make it a one-run game.

In the bottom of the second, Rutgers added two more runs on two hits to take the lead. After junior Carly Todd (Deptford, N.J.) was hit by a pitch, Anico joined her on base with a base hit. Huang would send both runners in with a double to give RU a 3-2 advantage.

After Lehigh tied the game with a run in the third, the River Hawks cushioned their edge with six runs on seven hits in the top of the fourth.

Trailing 10-3 in the bottom of the fifth, Sierra Maddox registered her second
homer of the season to cut into the deficit 10-5.

Although Aubrie Levine (Yorba Linda, Calif.), who had entered in the sixth inning, posted two scoreless frames in the circle, the Scarlet Knight bats were unable to guide RU to a comeback.

UP NEXT
Rutgers continues its weekend in Clearwater, Fla., with two games. First RU takes on Maine at 9:30 a.m. followed by a matchup with Chattanooga at 11:45 a.m.

KNIGHT NOTES

Rutgers has won 9 of its last 12 contests, as the loss to Lehigh snapped a four-game winning streak.
Lehigh's 10 runs were the second most allowed by the Scarlet Knights this season. The most RU has allowed this year was 12 runs to then No. 6 Louisiana-Lafayette.
Dresden Maddox registered a season-high seven strikeouts in the win over UMass Lowell.
Sierra Maddox added her second home run of the season, marking the seventh of her career.
Nicolette Anico matched her career-high with two hits for the third time this 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 ).

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