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NJAC Preseason Poll | Schedule Primer | Captains Announcement
 
NEWARK, N.J. (March 9, 2017) – The Rutgers University-Newark softball program will open its 2017 season Saturday in Clermont, Florida, taking on New England College and Western Connecticut State University.
 
The Scarlet Raiders are coming off the most successful season in program history, reaching the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament and winning 21 games. Rutgers-Newark won 6-of-7 to close the 2016 regular-season, and the Scarlet Raiders are hoping to roll that momentum over into 2017.
 
Leading the 2017 version of the squad will be junior captains Morgan Walizer and Elizabeth Marflak. Both have made incredible improvements in their respective games since coming to Newark as freshmen, and both have demonstrated strong leadership capabilities.
 
"They are very different, but both are natural leaders," said second-year Head Coach Kristen Hunt when she announced captains in early-February. "They have different ways of leading – Liz (Marflak) is more of a vocal leader and Morgan tends to lead by example – but on and off the field they are really great."
 
Marflak epitomizes the term student-athlete, maintaining an incredible 3.9 cumulative grade-point average and attending the NCAA Leadership conference in November. She made a big-time leap as a sophomore, playing in and starting each and every one of the team's 42 games, hitting .240 and getting on base at a .306 clip.  She racked up a sterling seven outfield assists, posting 35 hits and a team-high 14 walks.
 
Walizer does it all, pitching and playing third base for the Scarlet Raiders, and she too made a major leap from freshman to sophomore season. As a junior, Walizer will hope to continue seeing improvements – both in the circle, in the field and at the dish. In 2016 the Forked River native played 42-of-42 games, hitting .283 and slugging .367. She totaled 30 hits and 15 RBI, going 6-4 in the circle in 29 appearances. She hurled five complete games, striking out 41 and throwing a complete-game no-hitter on April 13.
 
Back for her third campaign is two-time all-conference pick Kelly Yusko. Yusko is one of the best players in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, and like Walizer, she does it in the circle, in the field and at the plate. Yusko had an incredible OPS (on base plus slugging) of .993 as a sophomore, hitting .409 and slugging .545. She led the team in batting average, hits (54), slugging percentage, on-base percentage (.438), earned-run average (3.50), wins (15), innings pitched (182.2) and more.
 
Also returning this season are juniors Sam Held and Kayla Gallo. Like those already discussed, Held and Gallo have improved greatly from freshmen-to-sophomores and sophomores-to-juniors.
 
Held will continue to catch and will also see some time at first base after making 40 starts as a season ago. She batted .250 with 30 hits and five doubles, getting on base at a .316 clip and cutting down six would-be base stealers.
 
Gallo hit a lofty .303, tallying 33 hits in 41 appearances and playing a strong second base. Gallo scored 16 runs and worked six walks, posting a .345 on-base percentage. Most impressively, Gallo led the team with 26 RBI, and slugged .486 as 13 of her 33 hits were for extra bases.
 
Sophomore Samantha Hoffman is also back after a supremely impressive rookie year. The team's primary center fielder hit .344 as a freshman, playing in and starting 42-of-42 games. Hoffman ripped 43 hits and slugged .408, finishing second on the team in batting average and on-base percentage, driving in 14 runs, racking up an impressive five outfield assists and playing strong all-around defense for R-N.
 
"I really can't say enough about our returners," said Hunt. "The entire group bought in from the start last fall, and they have not stopped working to improve. They have led our newcomers, showing them the right way to do things, and I think we will see that pay off this spring."
 
In addition to the strong returning nucleus, the Rutgers-Newark coaching staff has brought in a talented group of new faces.
 
Junior Morgan Schweitzer – who also plays volleyball at Rutgers-Newark – should see time behind the plate and at first base. She has demonstrated strength and power throughout the preseason.
 
Infielder Sarah Stiehler is projected to be the team's shortstop on opening day, filling the shoes of the graduated Kelsey Lucas who has stayed on board as an assistant coach. Stiehler is versatile and talented and could be a big piece for the Scarlet Raiders in the present and future.
 
Outfielders Brielle Mattiello and Brittany Kalesse should each get chances to shine early for Rutgers-Newark. Mattiello has excellent speed and Kalesse has a very strong arm, and the pair has demonstrated the talent to be impact players for the program.
 
Alyssa Morales and Desiray Melendez are both versatile student-athletes that will get chances to contribute. Morales can play on the infield and in the outfield, displaying nice quickness and instincts, while Melendez has a wealth of high-level travel experience and a very strong glove.
 
Also into the fold for 2017 are outfielder Janelyse Banos, infielder Daniella Echevestre, outfielder Erica Jimenez and outfielder Noor Tahir. All four – like so many above – have displayed incredible improvement so far, and will look to make the most of their early opportunities.
 
Rutgers-Newark will play 10 games in Florida to get the year started, and the Raiders return home on March 21 for their Alumni Field-opener against Drew University.
 
In Florida, R-N will be looking to improve against quality competition and get itself ready for the very strong NJAC schedule that awaits.
 
"Our Spring Break trip is going to be a big test for us," said Hunt. "It is competitive and challenging, but we are ready and excited to get the season started. I think the entire team is sick of practicing so Saturday can't get here soon enough."
 
Scarlet Raider fans should click on the links at the top of this story for more on Scarlet Raider softball, and they should also follow @ScarletRaiders on twitter for the latest.

Live Stats Link (home games) (note: Live coverage links for road games will be available day of game on rutgersnewarkathletics.com)