Softball Opens B1G Play At Maryland

Friday, March 6

College Park, Md.

6:00 PM

Rutgers University

Maryland

Addie Osborne making the throw at third base against FGCU at JoAnn Graf Field in Tallahassee, Florida

Mar 05 | Softball

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers softball begins Big Ten play this weekend, heading to the host of the 2026 Big Ten Softball Tournament to take on the Maryland Terrapins in a three-game series starting Friday.

This Week Softball graphic with Maryland featuring Mia Mitchell

TOURNAMENT INFO

Series:	at Maryland College Park, Maryland \| Maryland Softball Stadium
Game Notes:	Rutgers \| Maryland
Statistics:	Ru tgers \| Maryland \| Big Ten
Live Stats & Video:	Friday, Feb. 6 6:00 p.m. - Stats \| B1G+ Saturday, Feb. 7 2:00 p.m. - Stats \| B1G+ Sunday, Feb. 8 Noon - Stats \| B1G+ * - All times listed ET
Social Media:	Facebook \| X \| Instagram

ABOUT RUTGERS

Head Coach: Kristen Butler (Florida '06) - 270-320 overall (12th Season)/166-198 at Rutgers (Eighth Season)
2026 Record: 9-9 overall, 0-0 Big Ten

Top Scarlet Knights:
Batting

Riley Hwang - .410 BA, 8 runs, 16 hits, 1 double, 1 HR, 5 HRs
Baileigh Burtis - .315 BA, 8 runs 17 hits, 2 doubles, 2 HRs, 11 RBIs
Kelsey Hoekstra - .308 BA, 5 runs, 12 hits, 3 doubles, 1 HR, 5 RBIs

Pitching

Kelsey Hoekstra - 2-2 W-L, 1.93 ERA, 1 CG, 1 shutout, 1 save, 36.1 IP, 30 Ks
Kassandra Gewecke - 3-4 W-L, 4.02 ERA, 1 CG, 38.1 IP, 25 Ks
Brooke Shifflett - 4-3 W-L, 5.37 ERA, 1 CG, 1 shutout, 28.2 IP, 27 Ks

ABOUT MARYLAND

Head Coach: Lauren Karn (Saint Joseph's '08) - 173-195 overall (Sixth Season)/121-125 at Maryland (Third Season)
2026 Record: 10-9 overall, 0-0 Big Ten

All-Time Series: Rutgers Leads 14-12 (Last Series: April 16, 2025 - L, 7-11; April 15, 2025 - L, 1-4; April 14, 2025 - W, 5-1)

Top Terps:
Batting

Sammi Woods - .435 BA, 15 runs, 27 hits, 1 double, 6 RBIs
Bailey Murphy - .354 BA, 10 runs, 17 hits, 2 doubles, 5 RBIs
Mariah Penta - .352 BA, 3 runs, 19 hits, 4 doubles, 1 HR, 13 RBIs

Pitching

Keira Buche - 4-1 W-L, 1.38 ERA, 1 CG, 1 save, 25.1 IP, 12 Ks
Elisea Wiegand - 3-1 W-L, 2.46 ERA, 2 CG, 2 shutouts, 37.0 IP, 25 Ks
Caitlin Olensky - 3-4 W-L, 4.12 ERA, 1 CG, 25.2 IP, 30 Ks

SCHEDULE UPDATE

Rutgers softball has added a doubleheader at Saint Peter's for Tuesday, March 10. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. in Jersey City with game two to follow approximately 30 minutes after.

NEW HOME SWEET HOME

The RU Softball Complex will have a new look when the Scarlet Knights take the field in 2026 with the addition of new dugouts, grandstand and press box, all constructed during the off-season. Additionally, lights were installed at the complex as the Scarlet Knights will take to the field for night games at home for the first time in the program's 52-year history.
The new grandstand features chairback and bench-style seating, as well as ADA accommodations, and a state-of-the-art sound system.
The new press box houses a dedicated broadcast booth, a two-tiered working press, game presentation and operations area and two covered outdoor areas for additional workspace.
Rutgers Athletics' commitment to the student-athlete experience is not only showcased by the current complex upgrade, but by the numerous enhancements over the last several years.
The facility has already seen the addition of all-weather turf, updated bullpens, new fencing and backstop and a new video scoreboard. Additionally, the field was upgraded for prime-time network capability for the Big Ten Network and national television networks to broadcast games live from Piscataway, New Jersey.
Rutgers softball unveiled a state-of-the-art locker room in the fall of 2020 at Jersey Mike's Arena, featuring all-new amenities. The Scarlet Knights' home away from home features modern individual wardrobe-style lockers with charging stations and ample personal storage, a nutrition area, surround video, sound and LED lighting system and a dedicated space for equipment.
The Fred Hill Training Complex opened in January of 2017, spanning 22,500 square feet and equipped with state-of-the-art pitching machines, six batting cages, bullpens and a full turf infield. The facility provides the team with a dedicated home for workouts and practices year-round.

Rutgers Softball Complex Upgrade Rendering

UNCONQUERED INVITATIONAL RECAP

Rutgers went 2-2 at the Unconquered Invitational at JoAnn Graf Field in Tallahaasee, Florida with a doubleheader sweep of FGCU and a pair of losses to #10 Florida State, RU's second ranked opponent of the 2026 season.
The Scarlet Knights topped FGCU 10-7 in game one behind a trio of home runs, the most for Rutgers since the Illinois series in March of 2023 and took game two 9-1 as RU exploded for nine runs on six hits, including a grand slam from Mia Mitchell, in the fourth inning en route to the run-rule victory.
Rutgers and FSU went toe-to-toe in game one with a bottom of the seventh two-run home run ultimately lifting the Seminoles to the 2-0 walk-off win and dropped game two, 5-1, despite taking the early 1-0 lead.
On the weekend, Mitchell finished 5-for-11, hitting .455, with four runs, two doubles, two home runs, six RBIs and a 1.182 slugging percentage. Jayla Fuller collected a pair of doubles and three runs scored. Baleigh Burtis plated twice along with a home run and three RBIs. In the circle, Kassandra Gewecke got a complete game victory over FGCU, while Brooke Shifflett also took a win over the Eagles and totaled eight strikeouts across 6.2 innings of work.
In the 10-7 game one win over FGCU, Sam Rohwer, Burtis and Mitchell all belted home runs in the victory, the most home runs RU in a game since cracking four at Illinois back on Mar. 24, 2023 in a 7-5 win in the B1G opener. Burtis hit 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Mitchell finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs on a home run, a double and two runs scored. Hailey Stripling batted 2-for-3 with an RBI triple and a run scored. Brooke Shifflett who threw 5.2 innings, giving up three runs on two hits and two walks while striking out eight for the win. Shifflett improved to 4-2 in the circle. RU overcame a 4-0 Eagle lead after a half-inning of action, coming back to tie the game in the top of the third and ultimately taking the lead for good on a Burtis solo HR in the fourth.
In game two with the Eagles, Rutgers pushed across nine runs on six hits, including a double and grand slam from the bat of Mitchell, in the fourth inning en route to the 9-1 win in five innings. Mitchell finished game two 2-for-2 with four RBIs and two runs scored.Jayla Fuller and Riley Hwang were both 2-for-2 with an RBI and run scored. Baileigh Burtis and Charleigh Schuettler also had an RBI and a score in the fourth inning barrage. Kassandra Gewecke got the complete game win, allowing one run on four hits. She walked one while fanning three in her 5.0 innings of work to improve to 3-3.
In game one with No. 10 Florida State, it was a 0-0 stalemate until the bottom of the seventh when the Seminoles used a two-run walk-off home run to top the Scarlet Knights 2-0. Defensively, Rutgers out of a based loaded jam in the bottom of the first and second and gave up only one hit in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. The Scarlet Knights loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, but the side would be retired without Rutgers plating. Marin Heller led off the bottom of the seventh for the Seminoles with a walk and Jaysoni Beachum followed with a home run over the left field wall for the walk-off win. Rohwer was 1-for-2 with a walk, while Mitchell and Fuller each went 1-fof-3. Kelsey Hoekstra got the start, tossing 4.1 innings in holding FSU scoreless, while giving up four hits and four walks and striking out a pair of Seminoles. Gewecke fell to 3-4 in the loss.
In game two with the Seminoles, RU took an early 1-0 lead after their first at-bat, but Florida State came back with two runs in the bottom half en route to the 5-1 win. Riley Hwang was 3-for-3 scoring RU's lone run and Makenna Coleman garnered the RBI on the bases-loaded walk that scored Hwang. Charleigh Schuettler was 2-for-3 with sophomore Kelsey Hoekstra and senior Siera Hoekstra each posting up hits. Shifflett fell to 4-3 with the start, giving up two runs on four hits in 1.1 innings of work. Marley Caldwell and Gewecke also saw time in the circle.

NCAA LINEUP OF THE WEEK

Senior Mia Mitchell was named to Michella Chester's Starting Lineup for week four following her performance against FGCU and No. 10 Florida State at the Unconquered Invitational.
The Scarlet Knight transfer hit .455 with five hits, four runs, six RBIs, two doubles and two HRs, including a grand slam, in Rutgers' sweep of FGCU and two appearances against No. 10 Florida State.
Mitchell helped RU a 10-7 win and 9-1 run-rule victory over FGCU finishing the day 4-for-6 with two doubles, two home runs, six RBIs and four runs scored.
In the 10-7 game one win, she was 2-for-3 with two RBIs on a home run and a double and two runs scored. Mitchell was one of three Scarlet Knights with an HR in the game.
In game two, Rutgers pushed across nine runs on six hits, including a double and grand slam from the bat of Mia Mitchell, in the fourth inning. She finished game two 2-for-2 with four RBIs and two runs scored.

Michella Chester's Starting Lineup for Week 4️⃣ 🥎

P: Maya Johnson - @BelmontSoftball
C: Sarah Gordon - @UGASoftball
1B: Lexi McDaniel - @OU_Softball
2B: Aly VanBrandt - @IndianaSB
3B: Bella Cabral - @UVASoftball
SS: Gabbie Garcia - @OU_Softball
OF: Mia Mitchell -… pic.twitter.com/ufH4AKbAJG
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) March 4, 2026

MARY NUTTER COLLEGIATE CLASSIC RECAP

Rutgers appeared at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Invitational for a third-straight season going 2-3 on the weekend along with a game against Team Japan, the No. 1 team in the world.In the circle, Brooke Shifflett went 2-0 with wins over Bethune-Cookman and UC-San Diego. The junior held down a 1.40 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 15.0 innings pitched. Of her 12 hits allowed, only one was for extra bases. At the plate, Sam Rohwer finished hitting .500 (5-for-10) with two runs, a double, a home run and five RBIs. Addie Osborne battd .357 (5-for-14) with six runs scored, a double, a home run and two RBIs. Altogether, the Scarlet Knights hit five home runs on the season, including Osborne's team-leading fourth of the season.
RU kicked off the weekend with Shifflett delivering a complete-game shutout in a 6-0 victory over Bethune-Cookman. Baileigh Burtis posted a career-high four RBIs and registered her first home run of the season with a three-run shot going 2-for-3 on the afternoon. Jayla Fuller was 2-for-3 with a triple and pair of runs scored. Addie Osborne and freshman Eva Garofalo also scored runs in the victory.
The Scarlet Knights dropped a 8-5 decision to Cal State - Fullerton. The Scarlet Knights came back against the Titans in the bottom of the third to knot the score at 3-3, but Fullerton added two runs in the fourth and a trio in the sixth and staved off a seventh-inning rally fueled by a two-run home run by Osborne. Osborne went 2-for-4 with a double and two-run home run, her fourth of the season.
Siera Hoekstra hit 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Mia Mitchell and Sam Rohwer both collected doubles. Mitchell finished 2-for-4 while Sam Rohwer added a run. Kelsey Hoekstra dropped to 2-2 going 3.0 innings in the circle, giving up four earned runs on seven hits with a strikeout. At the plate, Hoesktra batted in a run. Kassandra Gewecke tossed three innings and Marley Caldwell saw action in the final inning. Both Scarlet Knights fanned a pair of Titans.
Day two opened with a 7-0 setback to LMU. The Scarlet Knights got hits from Hailey Stripling and Osborne and Rohwer. Gewecke got the start. She gave up three runs on four hits and struck out seven. She dropped to 2-2. Shifflett pitched the final two innings of action.
In game two of day two, Utah came back to hand RU a 3-2 loss. Riley Hwang was 2-for-2 with her first home run of the season and second of her career giving the Scarlet Knights a 2-0 edge in the fifth, but the Utes came back with a pair of walks followed by an RBI triple and RBI single to take the lead. Hoesktra started in the circle, going 4.0 innings and giving up a pair of hits with a pair of strikeouts. Gewecke dropped to 2-3 on the year, allowing three runs on two hits with one Ute down on strikes. Marley Caldwell picked up an inning's worth of work, fanning two.
The weekend came to a close as Rutgers picked up a 10-3 win over UC-San Diego to leave the west coast in the win column. Rohwer and Makenna Coleman both collected their first Scarlet Knight home runs, both recording three-run shots in the bottom of the fifth that saw RU collect seven runs on five hits. Shifflett, meanwhile, delivered six strikeouts in the victory, one shy of tying her career high. Mia Mitchell drove in two runs on a double and sac fly. Burtis and Hwang also sent in a run apiece and Osborne and Rachel Milan added a run each in the victory.

TEAM JAPAN

Rutgers faced Team Japan with members of the No. 1-ranked team in the world for five innings in an exhibition game. The Scarlet Knights faced a roster with all-star Misaki Katsumata, 2025 World Games bronze medalist Sakura Miwa and 2020 Olympian Miu Goto as Japan collected 14 runs on 13 hits. RU saw hits from Baileigh Burtis, Bailey Briggs, Riley Hwang and Rachel Millan.
Among head coach Kristen Butler's stops as a professional was in the Japan National League with Denso Softball, where she set a Japanese national record with three home runs in one game.

THE SNOWMAN: ALEX WILCOX MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT RECAP

Rutgers went 2-2 in week two at Nusz Park in Starkville, Mississippi with an 8-0 loss in six innings to host No. 19 Mississippi State and an 8-2 extra-inning victory over North Texas on Friday and an 8-5 victory over Murray State and a 7-2 loss to the Bulldogs on Saturday. Rutgers and Murray State on Sunday was canceled in the top of the first with RU leading 3-0 after rain entered the area.
In the first meeting with Mississippi State, Kassandra Gewecke got the start and went. 3.0 innings, giving up two runs on four hits with a pair of strikeouts. Riley Hwang kept the Bulldogs from the no-hitter with a two-out single in the third.
In game two on Friday, North Texas knotted the score at 2-2 in the top of the seventh, but the Scarlet Knights made a comeback in the ninth, generating six runs on six hits and an error. Siera Hoekstra was 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored and Addie Osborne collected her third home run of the season and finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Kelsey Hoekstra started in the circle, going seven innings with six strikeouts, but it was Gewecke picking up the win, hurling the final two innings and allowing only one hit in the seven batters faced, along with a pair of strikeouts.
On Saturday, Rutgers opened with an 8-5 win over Murray State as the Scarlet Knights took the lead for good in the third, scoring two runs off two Racer errors for an 6-4 edge. RU added insurance runs in the fifth on a Hailey Stripling sac fly to left and a Baileigh Burtis double while Murray State plated its only other run in the fifth. Burtis finished 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI doubles with Bailey Briggs and Stripling also punching in a pair of RBIs. Jayla Fuller also collected a double and added two runs. Brooke Shifflett earned her first Scarlet Knight victory, going 4.1 innings in the start with seven strikeouts and Kelsey Hoesktra picked up the save, tossing the final two innings and sending down one Racer on strikes to end a bases-loaded fifth.
The Scarlet Knights came back twice in their second match-up with No. 19 Mississippi State before the Bulldogs took the game with five runs on a pair of home runs in the sixth inning. Kelsey Hoestra belted her first home run of the season and got the start against the Bulldogs. She tossed. 2.1 innings, giving up one earned run and striking out three, and finished 2-for-3 at the plate. Burtis went 2-for-3 and Stripling added a run.

NFCA LEADOFF RECAP

Rutgers opened the 2026 season at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida at 3-2. The Scarlet Knights posted a no-hitter in a 5-0 win over North Carolina Central, an 11-3 win over South Alabama in six innings and a 6-4 victory over Notre Dame for the first win over the Fighting Irish since 2012.
In the 5-0 win over NCCU, sophomore right-hander Kelsey Hoesktra delivered a no-hitter for the Scarlet Knights behind a career-high nine strikeouts. The no-no has given the Scarlet Knights a no-hitter in each of the last three seasons. Her sister, Siera Hoekstra, captured RU's first home run of the year and finished the game with a pair of runs, sophomore Riley Hwang punched in the first RU run of the year on a stolen base and added a sacrifice fly and freshman Etta Garofalo pinch hit to knock in a a pair of runs.
No. 4 Tennessee picked up a 9-1 win in five innings in the nightcap of day one. RU's lone run came off the bat of sophomore Addie Osborne with a home run in the top of the fourth.
Rutgers rebounded with an 11-3 run-rule victory over South Alabama to open up day two. Kelsey Hoesktra improved to 2-0 going four scoreless innings with four strikeouts in the circle, while at the plate she was 2-for-3 with a two-RBI double to put the Scarlet Knights up in their first at-bat. Sister Siera went 2-for-2 with a two-run walk-off single in the sixth. Sophomore Bailey Burtis batted 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs while Osborne collected a two-run double and scored on Hoesktra's walk-off.
RU pulled within a run and had two aboard in the bottom of the seventh against defending Southland Conference Champion Southeastern Louisiana, but came up short in a 4-3 loss. Kelsey Hoesktra, who was the designated hitter, was 2-for-3, knocking in a run for an early 1-0 Scarlet Knight edge in the first, and also registered a double. Sophomore Kassandra Gewecke tossed 5.2 innings of relief, allowing one run on four hits while fanning three.
Osborne captured five RBIs on a two-run home run and a bases-loaded clearing double in a 6-4 win over Notre Dame. It was Osborne's second home run of the weekend. Gewkecke picked up her first Scarlet Knight victory with 5.2 innings of work and giving up only one extra base hit. Sam Rohwer sent in RU's other run of the game on a single.

B1G PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Kelsey Hoekstra was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week on February 9. The Overland Park, Kansas native was named to the NFCA Leadoff Classic All-Tournament team after going 2-0 in the circle with a no-hitter and batted .556 with three runs and three RBIs in leading Rutgers to a 3-2 opening weekend.
Hoekstra collected her first career no-hitter in a 5-0 victory over North Carolina Central, striking out a career high nine Eagles. She also tossed four scoreless innings versus South Alabama in the 11-3 five-inning run-rule win. The right-hander is currently holding down a 0.60 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 11.2 innings of work.

ROSTER FUN FACTS

Rutgers is back with a balanced roster of returnees, newcomers and transfers. The Scarlet Knights welcome back eight letterwinners and six starters from last year's youthful squad while adding 11 newcomers to the mix, including six transfers.
Etta and Eva Garofalo are one of 15 sets of twins, and four freshman twins, playing Division I softball this season. The Scarlet Knight twins will also be taking on twin sisters from three other teams this season including Tennessee, Nebraska and FDU.
The duo, however, are not the only sisters on the roster as they join senior Siera Hoekstra and sophomore Kelsey Hoesktra as sisters in Scarlet. Together, the two sets of sisters are among the 27 sets of sisters who are teammates. Rutgers joins North Alabama and South Florida with multiple sets of sisters on a squad.

B1G PLAYERS TO WATCH

A trio of Scarlet Knights were lauded by the Big Ten as Players To Watch in 2026.
Junior outfielder Makenna Coleman is in her first season at Rutgers after spending the last two seasons on the roster at Bryant where she was the 2024 America East Rookie of the Year. As a freshman, she was also named First Team All-America East and earned a nod to the America East All-Tournament Team after hitting .347 and collecting 41 hits, eight doubles, four triples and 25 home runs. Last season, Coleman posted 45 hits, 16 doubles and 29 RBIs and set the America East Tournament record for doubles in a game (3) and most doubles in a tournament (5).
Junior infielder Sam Rohwer also joins the Scarlet Knight roster from Bryant. She was a 2024 First Team All-America East and America East All-Rookie team honoree behind 34 hits, five doubles, seven home runs, 29 RBIs and .469 slugging percentage. Last year, Rohwer earned First Team All-America East honors for the second-straight season as she racked up 54 hits, 13 doubles, 40 RBIs while hitting .355 with a .603 slugging percentage.
Junior right-handed pitcher Brooke Shifflett is also in her first year at Rutgers after two seasons at Creighton. As a sophomore, she tossed 72.2 innings with 62 strikeouts and held opponents to a .204 batting average. She made 21 appearances with three complete games and recorded a season-high six strikeouts in games with Kansas City, DePaul and Saint Mary's.

B1G PLAYERS TO WATCH

A trio of Scarlet Knights were lauded by the Big Ten as Players To Watch in 2026.
Junior outfielder Makenna Coleman is in her first season at Rutgers after spending the last two seasons on the roster at Bryant where she was the 2024 America East Rookie of the Year. As a freshman, she was also named First Team All-America East and earned a nod to the America East All-Tournament Team after hitting .347 and collecting 41 hits, eight doubles, four triples and 25 home runs. Last season, Coleman posted 45 hits, 16 doubles and 29 RBIs and set the America East Tournament record for doubles in a game (3) and most doubles in a tournament (5).
Junior infielder Sam Rohwer also joins the Scarlet Knight roster from Bryant. She was a 2024 First Team All-America East and America East All-Rookie team honoree behind 34 hits, five doubles, seven home runs, 29 RBIs and .469 slugging percentage. Last year, Rohwer earned First Team All-America East honors for the second-straight season as she racked up 54 hits, 13 doubles, 40 RBIs while hitting .355 with a .603 slugging percentage.
Junior right-handed pitcher Brooke Shifflett is also in her first year at Rutgers after two seasons at Creighton. As a sophomore, she tossed 72.2 innings with 62 strikeouts and held opponents to a .204 batting average. She made 21 appearances with three complete games and recorded a season-high six strikeouts in games with Kansas City, DePaul and Saint Mary's.

SOFTBALL AMERICA BIG TEN FRESHMAN TO WATCH

Four members of the roster landed on Softball America's Big Ten Freshmen To Watch list in January.
Freshman catcher Charleigh Schuettler begins her Scarlet Knight career after earning Desert Valley Region Defensive Player of the Year at Sandra Day O'Connor High School in Phoenix, Arizona.
Twin rookies infielder Etta Garofalo and catcher Eva Garofalo from Warwick, New York are one of 15 sets of twins, and four freshman twins, playing Division I softball this season. Etta ranked No. 20 nationally and was the No. 15 infielder by Line Drive Media, who led Warwick Valley High School in batting average, OBS, OPS, SLG and doubles. Eva, meanwhile, ranked No. 20 nationally and was the No. 9 catcher by Line Drive Media hitting .384 with 29 home runs, nine triples, 49 doubles and 14 RBIs with her Empire State Huskies club. Both were three-time Section 9 Division Champions at Warwick Valley.
Marley Caldwell, a right-handed hurler from Scottsdale, Arizona, enters the circle for Rutgers having earned 4 West Valley All-Region First team honors and being named Notre Dame Prep High School MVP

UP NEXT

The Scarlet Knights travel to Saint Peter's for mid-week doubleheader on Tuesday, Mar. 10 and travel to Indiana to meet the Hoosiers in Bloomington on Marc. 13-15.

Rutgers softball is home for the first time in 2026 in two weeks. The Scarlet Knights will play their first game at the newly upgraded Rutgers Softball Complex on Wednesday, Mar. 18 in a doubleheader with FDU at 3:30 p.m. RU will host No. 6 UCLA in the first Big Ten series. The Scarlet Knights will hold an official ribbon cutting ceremony prior to first pitch with the Bruins on Saturday, Mar. 21 at 6 p.m., while the games on Sunday, Mar. 22 at 5 p.m. and Monday, Mar. 23 at 6 p.m. will be televised on BTN.

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