Softball Defeats Quinnipiac to Conclude Spring Break Trip

Sunday, March 20

Clearwater, Fla.

9:00 AM

Rutgers University

14-16

Quinnipiac

8-12

Quinnipiac

Rutgers

Softball Defeats Quinnipiac to Conclude Spring Break Trip

Mar 20 | Softball

Box Score

March 20, 2016

Final Stats

CLEARWATER, FLA. (March 20, 2016) - Rutgers softball concluded its weekend at the USF Spring Break Tournament with a 9-3 victory over Quinnipiac on Sunday morning. The Scarlet Knights concluded its week-long trip, which included 12 games, with a win over the Bobcats.

Rutgers improved to an overall record of 14-16, while Quinnipiac dropped to a mark of 8-12 overall.

Freshman Whitney Jones (Santa Monica, Calif.) earned the victory for RU, striking out three batters and walking none (5-4). Quinnipiac's Sydney Robey suffered the loss (3-6).

Junior Carly Todd (Deptford, N.J.) matched her career-high for the second time this season with three hits, while also resetting her career-best with a game-high three runs. Four other Scarlet Knights posted two hits in the win, while senior Melanie Slowinski (Severn, Md.) led the way with three RBIs on two hits.

Quinnipiac was led by Sydney Robey with two hits in the loss, while Keilani Finley posted a two-run home run in the game.

Despite the Bobcats loading the bases in the top of the first, Jones and the defense escaped the inning unharmed.

As the RU bats got off to a slow start, Jones worked a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the second, dealing a strikeout to end the frame. The freshman righty put up another zero in the third to hold the game scoreless.

The Scarlet Knights found their rhythm in the bottom of the third scoring three runs on four hits. After Todd and senior Stephanie Huang (Paramus, N.J.) reached with bunts, freshman Nicolette Anico (Liberty County, Fla.) sent Todd home with a single to give RU a 1-0 lead. Up next, sophmore Rebecca Hall (Fairfax, Va.) registered a double to score Huang. As sophomore Sierra Maddox (Kennesaw, Ga.) reached on a fielder's choice, Anico was able to score to set the Rutgers lead at 3-0.

Quinnipiac countered with a two-run homer from Finley in the top of the fourth. However, a diving grab for Anico followed by a strikeout for Jones helped the Scarlet Knights escape the inning with a 3-2 advantage.

Despite the Bobcats' threat of a comeback, Rutgers cushioned its lead with four runs on four hits in the bottom of the frame. Todd led off with a single and eventually advanced to third on a throwing error. A sacrifice fly from Huang sent Todd home to push the RU lead to 4-2. From there, Hall drew a walk and quickly stole second. Slowinski followed with a double sending in two more runs. Whitley then joined the rally with a hit of her own to score a run and set the Scarlet Knight advantage at 7-2.

In the top of the fifth, senior Dresden Maddox (Kennesaw, Ga.) entered retiring two batters at the plate before back-to-back doubles plated a run. A pop up to Slowinski ended the inning without any further damage, maintaining a 7-3 RU lead.

Rutgers would go on to extend its lead with two runs on two hits and an error in the bottom of the fifth.

Maddox worked two more scoreless innings, retiring three of four batters at the plate in the top of the seventh to close the Scarlet Knights 9-3 victory.

UP NEXT
After six straight weekends on the road, Rutgers returns to the RU Softball Complex for a four-game home stand next week. RU hosts Hofstra for its home opener on Tuesday, March 22 at 4 p.m. before hosting Penn State for its first conference series of the year from March 25-27.

With construction of the Fred Hill Training Complex to begin in the coming weeks, Rutgers Athletics has adjusted parking for those attending baseball and softball games this spring. Click here for the parking advisory.

Also, check back to ScarletKnights.com for a full announcement on the 2016 promotional schedule.

KNIGHT NOTES

Rutgers competed in 12 games across its seven-day spring break trip, racking up a record of 8-4 along the way.

Rutgers concluded its weekend at the USF Spring Break Tournament with a record of 3-2.
Five different Scarlet Knights registered multi-hit games, marking the third time this season five Scarlet Knights posted two or more hits.
Carly Todd posted career bests in hits (3) and runs (3).
Melanie Slowinski tied her career high with three RBIs.
With two hits in the game, Jordan Whitley is on a six-game hitting streak.
With two hits of her own, Stephanie Huang leads the team with 12 multi-hit performances 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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