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MORRISTOWN, NJ – Junior rightfielder Tina Zaggia's single capped a two-run eighth inning which lifted Rutgers-Newark to a 6-5 win in the opener before the Scarlet Raiders completed a sweep of the College of St. Elizabeth.  The Raiders piled up a season-high 17 hits in a 13-1 win in the nightcap on Convent Field.

IN THE OPENER, a throwing error by the catcher on a sacrifice bunt by freshman centerfielder Krista Casale brought in pinch runner Caroline Lane from second base to start the eighth.  After junior outfielder Tori Santiago bunted Casale to third, Zaggia delivered the game-winning hit.  Zaggia went three for four to pace the Raiders' 10-hit attack.

Junior reliever Liane Drastal (7-9) gave up a run on a sacrifice bunt and an infield grounder in the bottom of the eighth before giving up a single, but she coaxed a fly ball out to center field to get the win.

Junior starter Brianna Alicchio scattered nine hits while striking out two and walking one during the first six innings.  Only one of her four runs allowed was earned.  Drastal gave up two hits and the one run over the final two innings.

Junior catcher Gabby Spinella doubled to left field with two away in the first to bring home senior third baseman Monica Liotto who was on second following an outfield error.

Sophomore third baseman Alesandria De Sapio singled home two runs for the Eagles (11-15) in the bottom of the first.

Singles by Casale, senior leftfielder Nicole Odell and Zaggia blended with a bases-loaded walk to Liotto and three St. Elizabeth errors upped the Raider lead to 4-2 in the second.

A triple by senior shortstop Kelly O'Dell and a single by sophomore first baseman Madellyn Rodriguez to start the third inning trimmed the Eagle deficit to one before sophomore rightfielder Kristene Brady-Downes evened the tally in the fourth.  Brady-Downes singled to left and moved to second when the ball was mishandled, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a ground ball to the shortstop.

Odell and Zaggia singled and wound up on second and third with one out in the sixth, but senior pitcher Catherine Eber got a line drive to third base and a fly ball to left field to escape the jam.

IN THE NIGHTCAP, Liotto and Bagan homered to lead the 17-hit assault.  Liotto and Spinella each went three for four as the Raiders had seven players with multiple hits in the mercy-rule shortened five-inning game.

Bagan belted a two-run homer to cap a three-run first inning and added a double in the fourth when Rutgers-Newark sent 13 batters to the plate while scoring nine runs on eight hits.

Liotto highlighted the fourth inning explosion with a three-run homer while Odell singled twice in the inning, driving in the final two runs of the outbreak with her second hit.  Zaggia walked, singled and scored twice in the fourth.

Drastal picked up her second victory of the day by scattering six hits while striking out one and walking no one.  A triple by sophomore leftfielder Valerie Lasko and a single by O'Dell in the first inning produced the Eagles' only run.

Rutgers-Newark (10-24) hosts Rutgers-Camden on Senior Day on Saturday at 1 p.m. on Alumni Field.  Bagan, Liotto, Odell and pitcher Allie Ronchi will be honored between games.  It will be “Strike Out MS” Day with special pregame ceremonies.