CAMDEN, NJ – Rutgers-Newark carried the lead in game one into the sixth inning behind the pitching of sophomore Elena Morge and the hitting of senior Pico Rodriguez, but Rutgers-Camden rallied for a 4-3 and 12-0 New Jersey Athletic Conference sweep in Community Park.
NCAA Statistics: R-C 4, R-N 3 R-C 12, R-N 0
Rutgers-Newark (5-35, NJAC 0-18) finished its season without a conference win while Rutgers-Camden (8-28, NJAC 3-15) won five of its final 12 starts.
In the opener, Morge (2-10) scattered eight hits while striking out three and walking six and Rodriguez totaled three of the Raiders' nine hits as Rutgers-Newark took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the sixth. But, two walks, a bunt single, a sacrifice bunt and an infield ground brought home two Scarlet Raptor runs to spoil the upset bid.
Senior second baseman Shauna Gallagher, who went two for three, doubled with one out in the third to start a two-run rally. After Morge drew a walk, senior shortstop Charlotte Labate, Rodriguez and sophomore leftfielder Sam Weer delivered consecutive singles to boost the Raiders into a 2-1 lead.
After Rutgers-Camden tied the score in the bottom of the third, Rutgers-Newark seized the lead on back-to-back doubles by Morge and Labate to start the fifth inning to make it 3-2. But, that was the last Raiders' scoring as the team stranded two runners in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to come up just short.
In the nightcap, Raptor junior pitcher Natalie Powell hurled a four-hit, five-inning shutout after having gone the distance while giving up nine hits in the opener. Rutgers-Camden hammered out 11 hits and took advantage of seven Raider errors.
Rutgers-Newark loaded the bases in the fourth on back-to-back, one-out singles by senior catcher Nikki Spampinato and Weer followed by a two-out walk by junior pitcher Carrie McGuire. But, Powell struck out the next batter to get out of the jam and preserve the abbreviated shutout.
Gallagher doubled to lead off the Raider first inning and Morge doubled with two out in the fifth for the other Raider hits.
