NEWARK, N.J. (March 19, 2015) – The Rutgers University-Newark softball team ran its win streak to five games and evened its record at 6-6 with a doubleheader sweep of Swarthmore College Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field.
 
The Scarlet Raiders picked up a thrilling comeback victory in the opener, downing the Garnet (5-7) by a score of 6-5 in nine innings, and then rolled to an 8-2 triumph in the nightcap.
 
Senior Kelsey Lucas paced the offense in the doubleheader, drilling two triples, driving in five runs and finishing 5-for-9. Sophomore Kelly Yusko and sophomore Morgan Walizer each earned wins in the circle for the Raiders who will host Drew University Tuesday at 4 p.m.
 
Rutgers-Newark 6, Swarthmore 5 (9 inn.) – Game 1
The Scarlet Raiders picked up a thrilling comeback win in game one, scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth.
 
Sophomore Kelly Yusko crossed with the winning run in the ninth inning on a bunt single from freshman Samantha Hoffman. Hoffman put down a perfect bunt, and as soon as it was fielded, Yusko took off for home and scored R-N's sixth run of the game. The victory was the fourth-straight for the Scarlet Raiders after starting the season 1-6.
 
Down 5-2 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, senior Kelsey Lucas came up with runners on first and second and launched a triple over the right fielder's head, eventually scoring on the play because of a throwing error. Lucas' triple brought in sophomore Morgan Walizer and sophomore Elizabeth Marflak who singled and reached on an error earlier in the rally.
 
The Scarlet Raiders took the lead in the fourth after both starters worked quickly through the first three innings. A two-base error opened the door and sophomore Sam Held delivered an RBI single to left-center to give the hosts a 1-0 margin.
 
Swarthmore scored four unearned runs in the fifth inning to take a 4-1 lead and tallied another in the sixth to make it a 5-2 contest going to seventh. R-N scored its fifth-inning run on a triple from Marflak and a single from Lucas.
 
Yusko pitched well for the Scarlet Raiders, and retired the side in order in three of the first four innings, and she did not allow a single hit until the fifth. She finished went six innings, allowing five runs (one earned) and striking out two. Walizer pitched the final three frames and did an excellent job working around trouble. She picked up her first win of the season, allowing no runs, two hits and three walks along with three strikeouts.
 
Rutgers-Newark totaled nine hits in the game, and the Raiders were led by Lucas who went 2-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored. Sophomore Liesel Johnson was 2-for-5 with a run, and Hoffman went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Marflak scored twice, and Held was 1-for-3 with two walks.
 
Swarthmore had seven hits in the game, and the Garnet were led by a 2-for-4 with two runs scored performance from freshman Emily Barranca.
 
Rutgers-Newark 8, Swarthmore 2 – Game 2
Swarthmore took the lead early in the third inning of the second game, but R-N answered with four in the bottom half to take a 4-1 advantage. Walizer started the inning with a single, and she came around to score on a single from Lucas. Marflak scored on a fielder's choice bunt from Yusko, and a fielder's choice bunt from Johnson resulted in two runs because of an error on the play.
 
R-N added two more in the fourth to go on top 6-1 as Lucas tripled home Walizer who led off the inning with a single, and Yusko brought Lucas in with a sacrifice fly.
 
Yusko went the first four innings for the Scarlet Raiders, limiting the Garnet to two hits and one unearned run. She struck out four and walked one to earn the victory.
 
An RBI groundout from Gallo and an RBI double down the left field line from Walizer in the fifth inning made it 8-1 Scarlet Raiders, and Walizer hurled the final three innings to earn the save. She allowed one unearned run and one hit.
 
Lucas scored twice and drove in two in going 3-for-4 in game two, and Walizer went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Marflak and Yusko each went 1-for-3 with a run, with Yusko adding two RBI and Marflak drawing a walk. Held was 1-for-4 with an RBI and run scored.