Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

BROOKLYN, NY – Sophomore designated player Bianca Arroyo doubled home the winning run in the top of the sixth in game one as Rutgers-Newark opened its season with a doubleheader split at Brooklyn College under snowy conditions.  The Scarlet Raiders (1-1) took the first game, 3-2, with Bulldogs (5-1) bouncing back for a 6-2 victory in the nightcap.

IN THE OPENER, Arroyo's two-out double to right field brought home senior leftfielder Nicole Odell to stake the Raiders to a 3-0 lead before Brooklyn College rallied for a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Odell, winning pitcher Liane Drastal (1-0) and junior catcher Gabby Spinella notched two hits apiece to pace the 10-hit Rutgers-Newark attack.  Spinella and senior third baseman Monica Liotto each ripped doubles.

In the fourth inning, freshman shortstop Vannessa Romero stroked a two-out RBI single which got past the leftfielder allowing Drastal and Odell to score and give the Raiders a 2-0 edge.  Drastal and Odell had back-to-back singles to open the inning.

Drastal, who struck out two and walked just one while giving up six hits in the complete-game win, cruised into the bottom of the sixth with a four-hit shutout.  But freshman catcher Samantha Rodriguez drove an RBI triple through the left side of the infield and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of junior third baseman Amanda Bitz to narrow the Raiders' lead to a run.  Drastal coaxed three infield grounders while giving up a walk in the bottom of the seventh to strand the potential tying run at third base.

IN GAME TWO, Liotto went two for two with a double and scored both Rutgers-Newark runs, but Brianna Alicchio (0-1) was the hard-luck loser in deteriorating playing conditions.  She and senior reliever Allie Ronchi allowed just two hits apiece as the Bulldogs scored four unearned runs on three Raider errors.

Liotto doubled with two away in the first and scored on a single by Spinella, who collected two hits of the Raiders' five hits, to open the scoring.

But Brooklyn College scored two unearned runs without a hit off of two Raider errors in the third inning and pushed across four runs with the help of a throwing error in the fourth to move out to a 6-1 lead.

Liotto, who led off the sixth with a single, scored from third on a ground out to second by senior first baseman Monica Bagan to cap the Raider scoring.

Rutgers-Newark puts away its snow gear and heads for Myrtle Beach to play eight games in four days at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic.  The Raiders take on Lasell College on Monday in a doubleheader to kick off the spring break trip.  First pitch is set for 9:30 a.m. in Grand Park.