Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

NEWARK, NJ – Rutgers University-Newark erupted for four runs in the fourth inning of the nightcap to get a doubleheader split against Brooklyn College on a chilly afternoon on Alumni Field.  After rallying to within a run in the bottom of the seventh in a 4-3 opening loss, the Scarlet Raiders bounced back for a nail-biting 5-2 win game two.

IN THE SECOND GAME, sophomore second baseman Vannessa Romero's 2-out, 2-run double down the left field line came in the middle of the Raiders' 4-run outburst which was fueled by three hits and two critical Bulldog errors.  Back-to-back infield errors put junior third baseman Toniann Donde and senior shortstop Tiara Santi aboard before Brooklyn College failed to cover first base on a bunt single by freshman Anna Carlson to load the bases.  Senior first baseman Liane Drastal brought home the opening Raider run with a sacrifice fly ball in foul territory down the right field line with the runners moving up on the throw to the plate.  Romero followed with a ground rule double down the left field line.  After a wild pitched moved her into scoring position, Romero scored when freshman centerfielder Eleni Lutas legged out an infield single.

Rutgers-Newark pushed the lead to 5-0 in the fifth when Donde doubled to right center field, moved to third on a single to left field by Santi and scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Carlson.

Raider rookie starter Katie Boyd (3-4) started to run into trouble in the fifth inning, but a heads up defensive play got her out of harm's way.  With a runner on first and one out, Bulldog junior centerfielder Geena Bell hit a grounder off the glove of Boyd to beat out a single, but the Bulldogs' sophomore second baseman Samantha Rodriguez tried to go from first to third on the dribbler.  Romero picked up the ball and fired to Donde for the put out at third, and then Donde caught Bell in no man's land between first and second and tagged her out for an unconventional double play.

In the sixth inning, Brooklyn College (3-5) broke through for two runs on three hits and a bases-loaded walk before Boyd got a ground ball to second base to kill the threat with the bases loaded.

In the seventh, Boyd walked three of the first four batters before sophomore reliever Jess Cannon came on to get her first career save by getting a force out at the plate ahead of a game-ending grounder to first.

The Raiders managed just five hits against hard-luck loser Amanda Bisz (1-1) who struck out four, walked no one and yielded just one earned run.

Boyd also gave up just five hits while yielding seven walks and two earned runs.  She struck out two.

IN THE OPENER, Romero doubled to lead off the bottom of the seventh and set off a 3-run rally which fell just short.  Lutas followed with a single to right center field to give the Raiders runners on the corners with no one out.  Lutas stole second with the catcher's throw going into the outfield to plate Romero.  A wild pitch moved Lutas to third ahead of a walk by sophomore leftfielder Krista Casale.  Lutas and Casale pulled a double steal to produce the Raiders' second tally before a single to left field by Santi trimmed the Brooklyn College lead to one.

Senior starter Marie Oneta (2-1) struck out Carlson to end the game.  The Bulldog righthander scattered nine hits while striking out four and walking one.

Senior lefthander Brianna Alicchio (2-3) went the distance for the Raiders, giving up 11 hits and two walks while striking out two.

With the split, the Raiders (7-9) have now won seven of their last 10 starts.

Rutgers-Newark hosts Baruch College on Alumni Field on Thursday in a non-conference doubleheader at 4 p.m.