Softball Wraps Up Home Schedule With Monmouth On Tuesday

Tuesday, April 29

Piscataway, N.J.

3:00 PM

Rutgers University

Monmouth

Rutgers vs. Illinois - Game 3 - Senior Day

Photo by: Cos Lymperopoulos

Softball Wraps Up Home Schedule With Monmouth On Tuesday

Apr 28 | Softball

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Rutgers softball concludes its 10-game homestand and the home portion of its 2025 schedule on Tuesday, April 29 against Monmouth at 3 p.m.

SERIES INFO

Opponent/Location:	vs. Monmouth Piscataway, N.J. \| RU Softball Complex Admission: Free
Parking:	Register To Park
Statistics:	Ru tgers \| Monmouth \| Big Ten
Live Stats & Video:	B1G+ \| Live Stats
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ABOUT RUTGERS

Head Coach: Kristen Butler (Florida '06) - 260-308 overall (11th Season) /156-186 at Rutgers (Seventh Season)
2025 Record: 19-33, 3-16 Big Ten

Top Scarlet Knights:
Batting

Jillian Anderson - .338 BA, 28 runs, 45 hits, 9 doubles, 1 triple, 17 RBIs
Bailey Briggs - .300 BA, 21 runs, 45 hits, 2 doubles, 1 HR, 15 RBIs
LA Matthews - .263 BA, 16 runs, 40 hits, 9 doubles, 6 HRs, 36 RBIs

Pitching

Ella Harrison - 12-17 W-L, 2.54 ERA, 17 CG, 4 shutouts, 168.1 IP, 202 Ks
Laurelai DePew - 0-4 W-L, 4.87 ERA, 2 saves, 46.0 IP, 24 Ks
Kelsey Hoekstra - 6-10 W-L, 6.41 ERA, 3 CG, 75.1 IP, 33 Ks

ABOUT MONMOUTH

Head Coach: Morgan Royer (Saint Joseph's '14) - 11-38 career (First Season)/11-38 (First Season)
2025 Record: 11-38, 7-17 CAA

All-Time Series: Rutgers Leads 33-9 (Last Meeting: March 29, 2022 - W, 11-3 (5))

Top Hawks:
Batting

Liv Smith - .311 BA, 13 runs, 28 hits, 2 triples, 8 RBIs
Clare Picone - .295 BA, 14 runs, 26 hits, 7 doubles, 10 RBIs
Jayla Cadena - .252 BA, 9 runs, 29 hits, 6 doubles, 1 HR, 13 RBIs

Pitching

Jayla Cadena - 6-14 W-L, 6.25 ERA, 2 CG, 1 shutout, 112.0 IP, 30 Ks
Izzy Bonacci - 3-8 W-L, 6.75 ERA, 3 CG, 74.2 IP, 39 Ks
Olivia Lewis - 2-15 W-L, 8.02 ERA, 5 CG, 1 shutout, 2 saves, 110.0 IP, 50 Ks

ILLINOIS SERIES RECAP

Rutgers took its first Big Ten series victory of the year last weekend taking two of three from Illinois. After dropping the series opener against the Fighting Illini, 6-1, the Scarlet Knights rebounded with a 8-7 win in game two and 4-1 victory in the series finale on Senior Day.
The Scarlet Knights belted four home runs on the weekend including the sixth long ball of the year for graduate student LA Matthews and the first career home runs for redshirt sophomore Bailey Briggs, redshirt freshman Stephanie Kraska and freshman Baileigh Burtis. Kraska's home run was a grand slam in the series finale.
On the weekend, Briggs hit .500 (4-for-8) with two runs scored. Burtis was .444 at the plate (4-for-9) with two runs and four RBIs. Senior Georgia Ingle went .300 (3-for-10).
In the circle, freshman Ella Harrison went 1-1 with a 2.55 ERA and became the first Scarlet Knight in program history with 200 strikeouts in a season with eight fanned. She gave up four earned runs on 10 hits across her 11.0 innings. Classmate Kelsey Hoekstra tossed two scoreless innings with three hits and senior Laurelai DePew got a pair of starts holding a 2.62 ERA over 8.0 innings allowing three runs on 11 hits with four strikeouts.
In the opener, RU fell 6-1 as the Fighting lllini struck with three runs on three hits and an error in the top of the second. Matthews gave RU its lone run in the bottom of the inning. Illinois, however added a run in the third, sixth and seventh for the game's final margin.
The Scarlet Knights tied the series up with an 8-7 game two victory snapping a nine-game losing streak. Burtis went 3-for-4 with a career-high four RBIs and three runs scored with her first career home run tying the ball game at 2-2 in the first inning. Briggs hit 2-for-2 with her home run giving RU the lead for good in the third inning. Senior Jillian Anderson batted 2-for-3 with three runs scored including what would become the eventual game-winning run in the fifth. Anderson captured a pair of doubles and two RBIs. DePew got the start going three innings and giving up two runs on six hits and struck out a pair. Harison got the win improving to 12-17 in the circle. In four innings of work, Harrison gave up two earned runs on three hits and struck out three to become the first Scarlet Knight with 200 strikeouts in a single season.
It was a 2-2 ball game after one complete inning of play. Illinois plated a pair on a wild pitch and double, but Rutgers punched back as Burtis took her first pitch of the day over the wall in left for two runs in her first Scarlet Knight dinger to knot the score at 2-2. RU took the lead for good in the third. Briggs sent a shot over the wall to left as well, also for her first career home run. Burtis would plate again, coming home after a dropped ball in the outfield gave the Scarlet Knight the opening to put RU up 4-2. Burtis continued with another RBI in the fourth. Her single to center pushed across Anderson extending the Scarlet Knight advantage to 5-2. The Fighting Illini cut into the lead in the top of the fifth with two runs on a single and sac fly, but Rutgers responded with a trio of runs in the bottom half. Anderson's second double of the day sent in two runs and Burtis registered her fourth RBI of the day as Anderson scored on her fielder's choice. A pair of infield errors proved costly in the seventh for the Scarlet Knights as it allowed Illinois to pull within a run on a three-run home run. Harrison, however, shut down the Fighting Illini comeback striking out the next two batters swinging.
The series went to the Scarlet Knights with a 4-1 win in the finale thanks to a Kraska grand slam. Kraska came in to pinch-hit in the bottom of the sixth with the bases loaded, two outs and the Scarlet Knights trailing 1-0. She sent a 2-1 pitch down the left field line and over the wall for her first career home run and the Scarlet Knights' first grand slam since Morgan Smith against Maryland on April 10, 2024. DePew got the start, went five innings and allowed one run on five hits while striking out five. Hoesktra picked up the victory and improved to 6-10 on the year. She gave up three hits, yielding no runs, in her two innings of work. Illinois broke a scoreless tie in the top of the sixth on a double, sac bunt and sac fly. Leading off the bottom of the inning, Briggs singled to center field. Matthews followed and was robbed of putting Rutgers up as the Fighting Illini's Alaina Miller robbed the graduate student of a two-run home run, grabbing the ball as it was heading over the top of the wall. Five batters later, however, Kraska connected for her grand slam. With two outs, Ingle singled thru the left side with Kelsie Riggan coming aboard to pinch run. The bases were then loaded after a Riley Hwang walk setting up Kraska to send everyone home.

RECORD BOOK KEEPING

Ella Harrison is the Rutgers single-season leader in strikeouts with 202 on the year and is two away from cracking the Scarlet Knight career top 10 in her first season "On The Banks". It marks the most strikeouts by an RU pitcher since 2013.
The pitching staff, meanwhile, has totaled 267 strikeouts - currently the seventh most in program history. The pitching corps has appeared on the list the last four seasons with the 2022 squad leading the way with a school record 305 Ks over 55 contests.
Graduate student LA Matthews is eight RBIs away from cracking the Rutgers top 10 for season RBIs. She currently has 36 RBIs on the season and with seven more would move into a four-way tie for ninth alongside Katie Wingert (2024) and Sharon Morris (1995 & 1993).

NFCA TOP 25 FRESHMAN

Ella Harrison was named to the 2025 NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 25 list last Friday afternoon. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, May 27, prior to the start of the 2025 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City. This year's finalists hail from 24 different universities and represent 10 NCAA Division I conferences from across the nation.
The rookie right-hander is the Rutgers single-season leader in strikeouts with 202 on the year and is two away from cracking the Scarlet Knight career top 10 in her first season "On The Banks". It marks the most strikeouts by an RU pitcher since 2013.
Entering the final week of the regular season, Harrison ranked 12th among DI pitchers in strikeouts and second in the Big Ten behind Nebraska's two-time All-American Jordy Bahl. Additionally, she started the week 1th in the country and tied for first with Bahl and Iowa's Jalen Adams in the Big Ten in complete games (16) and was third in the league in shutouts (4).
Defensively, Harrison has committed no errors in 32 appearances.

NATIONAL RECOGNITION

Ella Harrison picked several honors after her performance at the Bob Heck Invitational. After being named the Big Ten Pitcher and Freshman Of the Week, the Scarlet Knight right-hander was named Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week by the NFCA and National Pitcher of the Week by D1Softball.
The Clarence, New York native becomes the first Scarlet Knight to earn national pitcher of the week recognition from both organizations.
Harrison collected three complete-game shutouts, including her first career no-hitter, in her three appearances at the Bob Heck Memorial Tournament and finished the weekend with a 0.00 ERA. She gave up six hits, none for extra bases, seven walks while striking out 34 and holding the opposition to a .095 batting average. The rookie Scarlet Knight has allowed no earned runs in her last 33 innings pitched.
The freshman captured a no-hitter in a 1-0 win over North Dakota behind a career-high 16 strikeouts, the most by an RU pitcher since Jaden Vickers' 17 on April 29, 2022 and surpassed over 100 strikeouts on the year.
Harrison added another shutout in a 1-0 win over West Georgia, striking out eight and allowing no walks.
The Scarlet Knight made her fourth consecutive shutout and sixth game this season in double-figure strikeouts in an 8-0 win over host Georgia State. She gave up two hits, one walk, while fanning 10 Panthers.

B1G PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Freshman right-hander Ella Harrison collected three complete game victories at the Lion Invitational for a 1.00 ERA with 26 strikeouts over 21.0 innings pitched to earn Big Ten Co-Pitcher of the Week honors alongside Nebraska's Jordy Bahl at the Lion Invitational. Harrison held opponents to a .195 batting average and three earned runs.
Harrison earned her first victory of the year as RU downed SIUE, 9-3, going the distance and allowing only one earned run on six hits while fanning eight in her first collegiate victory.
She followed tossing nine strikeouts and no earned runs in a 2-1 win over Abilene Christian, holding the Wildcats to four hits, none for extra bases.
In the Lion Invite finale with host East Texas A&M, Harrison made it three consecutive complete-game victories in the 4-2 win. She hurled nine strikeouts for the second straight game.

NORTHWESTERN SERIES RECAP

Freshman Ella Harrison became the Scarlet Knights' season strikeout leader to highlight RU's three-game series with the Wildcats.
In game one, a 6-0 setback, junior Siera Hoekstra and redshirt sophomore Bailey Briggs both had hits for the Scarlet Knights. Hoekstra connected for her third double of the season Harrison moved closer to becoming RU's season strikeout leader in the loss. The right-hander went three innings, giving up five earned runs on four hits while fanning four Wildcats to move to 190 Ks on the year. Classmate Kelsey Hoekstra finished out the game's final four innings allowing only one hit, to walks and struck out two.
Harrison, who tossed her 16^th complete game, struck out four Wildcats on the afternoon bringing her season total to 194 on the year, surpassing the previous record of 192 captured by Alyssa Landrith in 2013, to become RU's season strikeout queen. Rutgers led 2-1 after two innings of play, but Northwestern plated two runs in the fourth and added an insurance run in the fifth to take the second game of the series for the 4-2 win.
Rutgers dropped the finale 11-0. Senior Lauelai DePew got the start and was the pitcher of record going 2.2 innings and allowing one earned run on six hits. Hoekstra and senior Georgia Ingle also saw time in the circle. Hoekstra threw one inning, giving up four hits and no earned runs. Ingle tossed 1.1 innings with one run on two hits along with a strikeout Graduate student LA Matthews generated RU's lone hit with a chopper down the first base line and beating out a diving tag at the base.

MICHIGAN SERIES RECAP

Freshman Riley Hwang led RU with a .429 batting average (3-for-7) with her first career start in right field and first career home run. Classmate Baileigh Burts swung .30 (3-for-10) with a two-RBI double and run scored. Ella Harrison, meanwhile, picked up two more complete games and totaled 10 strikeouts in her two appearances.
The Scarlet Knights fell 3-1 in game one with a late seventh-inning rally, leaving the go-ahead run on first base. Freshman right-hander Ella Harrison went the distance for the 14^th time in 2025 giving up three runs on seven hits while striking out seven Wolverines. Redshirt sophomore Bailey Briggs, senior Georgia Ingle and Hwang collected hits. Freshman Baileigh Burtis scored RU's run in the seventh. RU added a run and loaded the bases in the seventh with the go-ahead run at first base. The rally saw a Burtis fielder's choice, Ingle single to center and Addie Osborne walk put the Scarlet Knights all aboard. With two outs, pinch hitter Allison Amadio collected an RBI after being hit by a pitch on a 2-2 count to score Burtis. Michigan's Erin Hoehn entered the circle and picked up a strikeout to end the contest and earn the save.
Hwang captured her first career home run in the 11-3 game two setback. Hwang finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Briggs notched an RBI base hit scoring Siera Hoekstra with Anderson also posting a hit in the loss. Senior Laurelai DePew was the pitcher of record totaling 2.0 innings of work and giving up a pair of earned runs on four hits. Ingle and freshmen Kelsey Hoesktra and Dezaria Johsnon also saw time in the circle.
Michigan took the finale 8-4 and managed to put the tying run on-deck in the seventh inning. Osborne collected her hit for her first career home run for RU's first run of the game while Burtis was 3-for-4 with a two-run double. Redshirt freshman Stephanie Kraska, meanwhie. delivered an RBI single in the seventh for the Scarlet Knights' final run of the afternoon.

LEHIGH RECAP

Rutgers returned to the win column on last Tuesday afternoon, snapping a seven-game skid, with a 6-1 nonconference victory over Lehigh.
Graduate student LA Matthews went yard for her fourth home run of the season and finished the game 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, senior Jilliian Anderson went 2-for-4 with a run scored and run batted in. while freshman Baileigh Burtis' two-run base hit in the third gave RU the lead for good.
Right-handed freshman Ella Harrison moved up 11-12 on the year in the win going 5.0 innings with eight strikeouts and no earned runs in five innings worth of work. Senior Laurelai DePew earned her second save of the season tossing the final two innings allowing just one hit and one walk.
Matthews put Rutgers up 1-0 two batters into the contest with a solo shot over the wall into left center.] Lehigh, however, tied up the game with their next trip to the plate. The top of the second saw the Mountain Hawks capitalize on a misplay at first for Martin to score and knot the score at 1-1. Martin opened Lehigh's at-bat with a walk and advanced on a ground out to third before scoring on the error.
Burtis gave the Scarlet Knights the lead of good in the third. Anderson and Bailey Briggs both singled to come aboard and scored on Burtis' single to left center for a 3-1 RU edge.
Addie Osborne and Anderson helped Rutgers extend its lead to 4-1 in the fourth. Osborne walked and stole second before coming home on Anderson's base hit to left center.
RU added two more in the sixth. With the bases loaded, Matthews drove in Osborne while the bases were still loaded as Briggs walked in Siera Hoekstra for the game's final margin.

PENN STATE SERIES RECAP

The host Nittany Lions took the weekend series with a 2-1 and 8-0 doubleheader victories on Friday and 15-11 win in the series finale.
Redshirt sophomore Bailey Briggs led RU at the plate hitting .400 (4-for-10) with a double and two runs scored. Senior Jillian Anderson went .375 (3-for-8) with a double and team-leading three runs scored on the weekend. Junior Siera Hoekstra and senior Georgia Ingle both batted .333 (2-for-6) with a double and run scored. Hoekstra collected a trio of RBIs, while Ingle sent in two runs, including one off a sac fly.
In the game one setback, Ella Harrison returned to the circle for her 13th complete game of the season. She gave up two runs on four hits and struck out 10. It marked her seventh double-digit strikeout game of the year. Anderson, who scored RU's lone run in the sixth and redshirt freshman Stephanie Kraska both had hits for the Scarlet Knights, while freshman Riley Hwang posted a sac fly. Penn State took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, while the Scarlet Knights got out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth. A walk, a single and a hit by pitch put the Nittany Lions all aboard with no outs, but Harrison got the job done at the plate sending down the next three PSU batters on strikes.Rutgers got onto the scoreboard in the top of the fifth. Anderson kicked off the bottom half breaking up the no-hitter with a single into left center and plated the run off Hwang's sac fly to left. RU got out of a critical situation in the bottom of the sixth. Harrison walked three consecutive Nittany Lions with no outs. The Scarlet Knights got the first out with the ball going directly to the circle for the toss from Harrison to Gaelen Kelly at the plate. Harrison collected her 10^th strikeout of the game for out number two. The bases were then left loaded with a fly out to left.Down 2-1 in the top of the seventh, Rutgers flipped the script and had the bases loaded with two outs. A wild pitch gave the opening for Hailey Stripling to tie the score but the hard bounce off the backstop helped the Nittany Lions record the out at home and take the game.
Penn State got by RU 8-0 in six innings in game two of the double header. Ingle recorded a double and Briggs also notched a hit in the loss. Harrison got the start for the second-consecutive contest going 4.0 innings with three runs on two hits and four strikeouts.
RU dropped the series finale, 15-11, despite tying its season high with 12 hits, including multiple hits from Briggs, Anderson and Hoekstra. Briggs went 3-for-5, tying her career-high in hits, while Anderson was 2-for-3. Both logged doubles and two runs scored apiece. Hoekstra went 2-for-4 with a two-run double. Freshman Baileigh Burtis notched a pair of RBIs on her first career triple and sac fly. Freshmen Addie Osborne and Kelsie Riggan each had extra base RBIs as Osborne also scored twice. Ingle recorded a pair of RBIs, including a sac fly, and a run scored with graduate student LA Matthews also pushing across an RBI and run scored. Freshman Kelsey Hoekstra got the start with senior Laurelai DePew and Harrison also seeing time in the circle. Harrison finished out the final 3.1 innings and captured five strikeouts.

OREGON SERIES RECAP

The Scarlet Knights are back on the road after hosting Oregon for a two-game series last weekend in the first-ever Big Ten match up between the two squads. The No. 6 Ducks swept as RU made it back-to-back weekends with the new members of the conference having played at Washington the previous weekend.
Against Oregon, freshman Kelsey Hoesktra and senior Laurelai DePew got starts in the circle with Georgia Ingle and Dezaria Johnson each seeing time in both games. DePew collected a trio of strikeouts in her 2.1 innings of work.
At the plate against the top ten Ducks, senior Jillian Anderson went 2-for-4, while graduate student LA Matthews notched her third home run of the season, freshman Allison Amadio swung for her first career triple and Jayla Fuller registered an RBI double.

WEST COAST RECAP

The Scarlet Knights went .500 in their spring break west coast trip weekend. During the midweek nonconference portion of the trip, RU secured a 4-2 victory at Oregon State and a 8-6 win at Portland State before dropping a doubleheader at Washington in the first Big Ten meeting between the two schools.
Freshman right-hander Ella Harrison got the start against the Beavers going 4.1 innings, allowing no runs and two hits. She racked up six strikeouts en route to improving her record to 10-9 on the year. Senior Laurelai DePew closed the game throwing the final 1.1 innings, giving up one hit while fanning a trio of Beavers. Graduate student LA Matthews, junior Siera Hoekstra and Gaelen Kelly all picked up RBIs. Freshmen Riley Hwang and Baileigh Burtis were both 2-for-4 with Burtis scoring a run.
Freshman right-hander Kelsey Hoekstra got the win to up her mark to 5-7 on the season. She totaled 6.1 innings of work giving up three runs on five hits while fanning four Vikings. Leadoff Jillian Anderson and fellow veteran Scarlet Knight LA Matthews were both 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Anderson also plated twice. Redshirt sophomore Bailey Briggs added an RBI on a sac fly, while freshmen Jayla Fuller and Addie Osborne also contributed RBIs.

MARYLAND SERIES RECAP

In game one with the Terps, the Scarlet Knights picked up a 5-1 victory. Rookie Ella Harrison went the distance for the 11th time in 2025 to improve to 9-7 inside the circle. She hurled a trio of strikeouts and is now one shy of entering the season top ten "On The Banks". She gave up only two hits and no earned runs and walked two Terps. Freshman Addie Osborne scored a pair of runs along with redshirt sophomore Bailey Briggs and freshmen Kelsie Riggan and Jayla Fuller crossing home plate. Freshman Baileigh Burtis made it back-to-back multiple RBI games driving in a pair of runs in the fifth inning.
Maryland evened the series on Saturday taking a 4-1 victory. Rutgers captured its lone run off junior Siera Hoekstra's second home run of the season. Senior Jillian Anderson was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles. Osborne also captured a double. Harrison went the distance allowing one earned run on five hits while striking out eight. Her streak of unearned runs came to a close in the seventh inning on the Terps' fourth and final run ending a streak of 48 consecutive innings.
Maryland took the series on Sunday with an 11-7 win. Graduate student LA Matthews was 2-for-4 with a home run and two-run double for a career-high four RBIs. Freshman Jayden Hutchison was 2-for-2 with an RBI. Anderson also added a run scored and run batted in.
Redshirt sophomore Bailey Briggs also contributed a pair of runs with freshmen Kelsie Riggan and Jayla Fuller also coming across home plate in the loss. Inside the circle, freshman Kelsey Hoekstra got the start, giving up six runs on six hits in 1.2 innings of work. Harrison was the pitcher of record going four innings allowing four earned runs with four strikeouts.

BOB HECK MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT RECAP

Rutgers went 3-1 on its final nonconference weekend which included a trio of shutouts. RU split with North Dakota taking game one 1-0 behind Ella Harrison's first career no-hitter before the Fighting Hawks came back to take game two, 11-3, in six innings. The Scarlet Knights also picked up a 1-0 win over West Georgia and an 8-0 run-rule victory over host Georgia State.
Harrison captured three complete-game shutouts, including her first career no-hitter, in her three appearances at the Bob Heck Memorial Tournament and finished the weekend with a 0.00 ERA. She gave up six hits, none for extra bases, seven walks while striking out 34. The rookie Scarlet Knight has allowed no earned runs in her last 33 innings pitched. The right-hander captured a no-hitter in a 1-0 win over North Dakota behind a career-high 16 strikeouts, the most by an RU pitcher since Jaden Vickers' 17 on April 29, 2022 and surpassed the 100 season K mark. Harrison added another shutout in a 1-0 win over West Georgia, striking out eight and allowing no walks. Harrison made her fourth consecutive shutout and sixth game this season in double-figure strikeouts in an 8-0 win over host Georgia State. She gave up two hits, one walk, while fanning 10.
At the plate, RU was led by Jillian Anderson and Kelsie Riggan going 4-for-12 combined to hit .333 on the weekend. Anderson captured a double, plated four runs and collected a pair of RBIs. Riggan, meanwhile, connected for her first collegiate home run with a two-run shot in the finale with Georgia State along with a double and three RBIs.
Kelsie Hoekstra saw five at-bats with a pair of hits, including a two-run double against the host Panthers.
LA Matthews swung .308 with four hits, a double and a trio of runs batted in.

JANE B. MOORE MEMORIAL RECAP

Rutgers took on its fourth nationally ranked SEC opponent of the year and picked up its second shutout of the season at the Jane B. Moore Memorial hosted by No. 19 Auburn.
The Scarlet Knights dropped both games on day one against Louisiana and the No. 19 Tigers by 5-0 scores. In the second game of the weekend with the Ragin' Cajuns, RU came back from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game up at 3-3 heading into the sixth inning before the opposition pushed across two more for the win. In the first of two meetings on the weekend with McNeese State, it was a 2-2 ball game heading into the final inning before the Cowgirls scored the go-ahead run on a miscue.
Rutgers softball closed play on Sunday with a season-high in hits and double-digit strikeouts in a 7-0 shutout of McNeese State. The Scarlet Knights captured 11 hits while freshman right-hander Ella Harrison went the distance for the seventh time this season for her first career shutout, tying her career mark with 11 strikeouts, including a streak of seven consecutive Ks.

MARY NUTTER RECAP

The Scarlet Knights are coming off their second consecutive appearance at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. Out in Cathedral, California, RU went 2-4, facing a trio of top-25 SEC opposition and picking up wins over Bethune-Cookman and UC Riverside.
Freshman right-hander Ella Harrison struck out 29 across her three appearances and 17.2 innings pitched marking the most strikeouts of any pitcher during Mary Nutter. She only gave up two extra-base hits and held down a 1.58 ERA. Harrison had double-figure strikeouts in two of her three appearances including 10 against No. 22 Missouri and a career-high 11 against Oregon State.
Also in the circle, freshman Kelsey Hoekstra sent down five on strikes against UC Riverside in the final game of the week, while fellow freshman Dezaria Johnson made her first appearance and picked up a save in the victory over Bethune-Cookman.
Offensively, Jayla Fuller got her first career start in left field in the finale against UC Riverside that saw the rookie go 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and pair of RBIs along with a run scored.
Three other bats hit over .300, including freshman Riley Hwang, redshirt freshman Stephanie Kraska and senior Jililan Anderson. Anderson collected five hits and a pair of RBIs.

LION INVITATIONAL RECAP WEEKEND RECAP

The Scarlet Knights went 4-1 at the Lion Invitational in week two of the season. RU opened with a 9-3 victory over SIUE and the first shutout of the year in a 7-0 win over host East Texas A&M on day one. Picked up a 2-1 win over Abilene Christian to start off day two before falling 4-1 in the second meeting with SIUE. RU, however, rebounded with another victory of ETAMU, 4-2, on the final day.
In the circle, Ella Harrison wen, combining for a 1.00 ERA with 26 strikeouts over 21.0 innings pitched while keeping opponents to a .195 batting average and three earned runs. Kelsey Hoesktra was 1-1 with a 1.56 ERA and shared the shutout over East Texas A&M.
At the plate, Jillian Anderson hit .500 with six hits in 12 at-bats, driving in four runs while scoring three runs. LA Matthews batted .438,going 7-for-16, with a home run and pair of doubles resulting in 4 RBIs and two runs scored. Bailey Briggs also accounted for four runs batted in and came across the plate three times.

SPRING GAMES WEEKEND RECAP

The Scarlet Knights opened up the 2025 campaign last weekend at The Spring Games in Leesburg, Florida. Rutgers opened the season with a 6-2 victory over defending Horizon League Champion Cleveland State before falling 8-1 to MTSU,
Veterans Jillian Anderson and LA Matthews both hit .333 with five hits, including a double on the weekend. Matthews recorded three RBIs while Anderson sent home a pair of Scarlet Knight base runners. Redshirt sophomore Bailey Briggs logged five hits with a pair of RBIs.
Redshirt freshman Hailey Stripling made her RU debut and finished out the weekend with three RBIs, four runs scored and a pair of stolen bases. Stripling was responsible for three of RU's six runs in the 6-3 season-opening victory over Cleveland State.
Inside the circle, freshman Ella Harrison made three appearances with 14.2 innings pitched with 15 strikeouts, including 10 in her Scarlet Knight debut against MTSU. Her double-digit strikeouts marked the most by a rookie hurler since Jaden Vickers in 2020.
Classmate Kelsey Hoekstra got the start and the win against Cleveland State and went the distance in Sunday's game with Liberty and totaled 13.0 innings on the weekend with five earned runs allowed.
Seniors Georgia Ingle and Laurelai DePew also saw time in relief. DePew threw the final inning in the win against the Vikings and struck out two. Ingle made three trips to the circle, including both games with Liberty as well as Louisville. Ingled totaled 4.1 innings of work with one earned run allowed.
This season, Rutgers softball boasts a youthful squad with 12 newcomers, including Witchita State transfer shortstop Siera Hoekstra along with 11 true freshman. Five members of the freshman class were named to Softball America's Freshmen To Watch list - Infielders Addie Osborne and Baileigh Burtis and pitchers Ella Harrison, Kelsey Hoekstra and Dezaria Johnson.
Graduate student first baseman LA Matthews, senior outfielder Jillian Anderson and freshman right-handed pitcher Ella Harrison were named Big Ten Players to Watch .
Also returning to the roster for the 2025 campaign are senior left-handed reliever and designated player Georgia Ingle, senior right-handed pitcher Laurelai DePew, junior catcher Gaelen Kelly, redshirt sophomore infielder Bailey Briggs along with redshirt freshmen Stephanie Kraska and Hailey Stripling.

B1G PLAYERS TO WATCH

A trio of Scarlet Knights were lauded by the Big Ten as Players To Watch in 2025.
Graduate student LA Matthews begins her second season after starting all 55 games last season for the Scarlet Knights, primarily at first base. She hit .306 in a season that saw RU go 33-22 overall for the Scarlet Knights' second consecutive 30-win season and finish third in the Big Ten regular season standings, RU's best finish since joining the conference in 2014. Matthews totaled 56 hits and 34 runs on 13 doubles, a trio of triples and a home run. She also racked up 34 RBIs, including four contests with three runs batted in.
Jillian Anderson, also entering her second season at Rutgers, having patrolled the outfield in all 55 games a year ago. Her prowess robbed opponents from home runs and she committed no errors with 60 putouts for a perfect fielding percentage playing both in left and center. At the plate, Anderson batted .288 with 38 hits, 25 runs scored, three doubles and 12 RBIs.
Ella Harrison is in her first season "On The Banks". A member of the Softball America Freshman To Watch List, Harrison comes to Rutgers having earned 2023 New York State Class AA Player of the Year honors at Clarence High School. During her junior campaign she threw 134 strikeouts in 84 innings pitched with a 1.50 ERA while hitting .382 with 19 singles, six doubles and a triple. Additionally, she pitched 11 innings in a state championship shutout.

SOFTBALL AMERICA FRESHMAN TO WATCH

Five members of Rutgers landed on Softball America's Freshmen To Watch list in January.
Addie Osborne, an infielder from Erie, Colorado, was the 2023 5A State and Conference Player of the Year. During scholastic career, she hit .452 with 134 runs, 131 hits, 160 RBIs , 38 home runs, .993 slugging percentage and 1.509 OPS. She hit .518 as a senior behind 41 runs, 44 hits, 58 RBIs and 19 home run, 1.305 slugging percentage and 1.890 OPS
Baileigh Burtis, a fellow infielder from Friendswood, Texas was a two-time First Team All-State, three-time First Team All-District and three-time First Team All-County selection. She hit .438 as a senior with 15 doubles, seven triples, and one home run and holds the Friendswood High School Single Season Doubles (15) and Career Doubles (42) records.
Ella Harrison, a right-handed hurler from Clarence, New York, earned 2023 New York State Class AA Player of the Year honors. During her junior campaign she threw 134 strikeouts in 84 innings pitched with a 1.50 ERA while hitting .382 with 19 singles, six doubles and a triple. Additionally, she pitched 11 innings in a state championship shutout.
Kelsey Hoekstra, also a right-handed pitcher coming in from Overland Park, Kansas, was the 2023 Sunflower League Pitcher of the Year as well as a two-time First Team All-State and three-time All-League pick. She helped her 20-2 squad to the state quarterfinals and picked up strikeouts in 112 innings pitched with a 1.00 ERA and hit .476 with 21 runs along the way.
Dezaria Johnson, another right-hander inside the circle hailing from Covington, Georgia, ranked No. 20 in 2024 Extra Elite 100. She was a two-time 8AAAAA All-Region selection, two-time Pitcher of the Year and the 2022 Region Pitcher of the Year.

A LOOK BACK AT LAST SEASON

A year ago, Rutgers captured back-to-back 30-win seasons for the first time in program history, a program record for Big Ten victories and Big Ten series wins and the highest Big Ten Tournament seed since joining the league in 2015.
The Scarlet Knights set a total of 11 school records - six career (Payton Lincavage - at bats; Kyleigh Sand - batting average, runs; Katie Wingert - home runs, RBIs, walks), four team season (runs, RBIs, walks and total bases) and two individual season (Kyleigh Sand - runs & Morgan Smith - RBIs) along with 23 career top 10 entries.
Former Scarlet Knight Morgan Smith became the first RU player to earn NFCA All-America distinction with a second-team selection along with first-team honors from Softball America, in addition to being named ECAC Player of the Year. Additionally, three Scarlet Knights were named to NFCA All-Region and All-Big Ten squads in Smith, Sand and Mattie Boyd. After the season Smith and Sand both signed professional contracts following the season and are currently playing professionally in Mexico.