NEWARK, NJ – Senior second baseman Shauna Gallagher went five for seven on the day and senior shortstop Charlotte Labate delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the fifth as Rutgers-Newark earned a 4-3 win over Lehman in the opener for a doubleheader split on Alumni Field. The Bearcats (12-11) rebounded for a 7-1 victory in the nightcap.
NCAA Statistics: Rutgers-Newark 4, Baruch 3 Baruch 7, Rutgers-Newark 1
Gallagher went three for four and scored twice for the Scarlet Raiders (4-24) in the opener while freshman centerfielder Jessica Zelaya and sophomore leftfielder Sam Weer had two hits apiece.
Junior righthander Carrie McGuire got her first win in seven decisions by scattering five hits while striking out two and walking just one. The only earned run that she gave up was a lead-off home run in the fourth by Baruch freshman designated player Chrystal Orrico.
RAIDER VISION HIGHLIGHT VIDEO
Rutgers-Newark gave up the led in the top of the fifth, committing three errors to boost Baruch into a 3-2 lead.
But, Zelaya and Gallagher had back-to-back singled to start the bottom of the fifth. Zelaya who stole second ahead of Gallagher's single, came home on an infield grounder by freshman first baseman Shannon Davis before Labate stroked the game winner into left centerfield.
Rutgers-Newark took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first when Gallagher doubled with one out before moving to third on a single by Davis. A throwing error on an infield grounder by Labate allowed Gallagher to score before a sacrifice fly to rightfield by McGuire capped the rally.
In the nightcap, Bearcat freshman ace Andrea Tepfer (8-3) shackled the Raiders, allowing only four hits while striking out six and walking one.
Gallagher singled in the first and had an RBI double to right centerfield in the fifth to be the only Raider with two hits. Senior pinch hitter Nikki Spampinato led off the fifth with a single and scored Rutgers-Newark's lone run.
Davis had the other Raider hit, getting a lead-off single to left in the fourth.
Rutgers-Newark visits New Jersey City at 1 p.m. on Saturday for a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader.
