NEWARK, NJ – Rutgers-Newark freshman Samantha Veneziano hurled a 2-hit shutout in the opener of a doubleheader sweep over Wells on Alumni Field. Game scores were 8-0 and 11-4 as the Scarlet Raiders (6-6) topped their victory total of 2009 just a dozen games into the 2010 season. 

R-N 8, Wells 0     R-N 11, Wells 4

In game one, Veneziano (3-2) allowed an infield single in the second and a bunt base hit in the sixth of the 6-inning victory.

Junior third baseman Ashley Angeli slapped an RBI single through the right side in the fourth to plate freshman first baseman Monica Bagan with the only run Rutgers-Newark would need.

Freshman catcher Monica Liotto doubled during the Raiders' 3-run fifth inning. Junior centerfielder Jessica Zelaya's bases-loaded infield single in the bottom of the sixth pushed across the mercy-rule final run with two out.

In the nightcap, sophomore shortstop Tina Aita drove in five runs with two doubles, a single and a fielder's choice grounder. She hammered a 2-run double to left to cap a 3-run outburst which was started by junior second baseman Emily Ibarra's triple to right centerfield.

Liotto went three for four and scored three times as Rutgers-Newark pounded out a season-high 16 hits. Bagan joined Aita and Liotto with three hits while Zelaya and senior catcher Amber Affholter chipped in two hits apiece. Affholter doubled to lead off the third and scored on a grounder to third base off the bat of Aita.

Freshman right-hander Angela Riscinti (3-4) picked up the Raider victory, yielding just two earned runs on seven hits while striking out three and walking three.

Rutgers-Newark travels to Hoboken on Wednesday at 3 p.m. to take on Steven in a non-conference doubleheader.