CLERMONT, Fla. (March 15, 2018) – The Rutgers University-Newark softball team continued its spectacular start to the 2018 season Thursday with two more victories, topping Roger Williams University by a score of 3-0 and defeating Fitchburg State University, 5-1.
The Scarlet Raiders have now won five-straight games overall and 7-of-8 to start the season (7-1). Newark has outscored the opposition 61-17 overall and has not allowed more than two runs during its current five game winning streak. During those five wins, R-N has recorded three shutouts, scored more than eight runs three times and has a plus-44 scoring differential (47-3).
Freshman pitcher
Paige Masiello was splendid Thursday, earning two wins and allowing just two total hits over 12 innings of work. She struck out six on the day and walked three and is now a perfect 4-0 with a tidy 2.23 earned-run average.
Rutgers-Newark will look to end its Florida trip strong Friday with games against the University of Southern Maine (9 a.m.) and Elmhurst College (2 p.m.). Live stats will be available for the Elmhurst game via
www.rutgersnewarkathletics.com.
Rutgers-Newark 3, Roger Williams 0
Masiello was dominant, tossing a complete-game two-hitter with four strikeouts to pocket her third win of the season. She was able to strand to two baserunners in the third and two more in the fourth, sending the final nine Hawks she faced down in order.
The Scarlet Raiders took the lead for good in the second when senior
Kayla Gallo was hit by a pitch with one out and she was doubled home by junior
Samantha Hoffman who came through with a clutch two-out rip.
Despite not needing it, Newark tacked on two runs in the bottom of the six for the final margin. Senior
Morgan Schweitzer opened the inning with a pinch hit single and sophomore
Brittany Kalesse followed with the same thing with one out. Gallo singled home Schweitzer and freshman catcher
Sam Morton brought in the final tally with a sacrifice fly.
Rutgers-Newark totaled seven hits in the game and seven different players had one each in freshman
Jaclyn Arute, Schweitzer, freshman
Julie Contravo, Kalesse, Gallo, Morton and Hoffman.
Rutgers-Newark 5, Fitchburg St. 1
Contravo came through with a two-run blast in the first inning to set the tone in the day's second game. The long ball came with two outs and brought home Schweitzer who had reached base on an error earlier in the frame.
Masiello retired the first 11 Falcons she faced, giving up a harmless single in the fourth inning with two outs. The rookie went on to fire five one-hit innings, striking out two and walking one. Freshman
Masha Corbett earned a six-out save, giving up one run on one hit and striking out two.
Sophomore
Brielle Mattiello doubled home Morton in the second inning for a 3-0 lead, and Corbett brought home Contravo with a base hit in the fifth. Senior
Kelly Yusko doubled home Schweitzer for the final Scarlet Raider run of the game in the seventh.
Contravo led a 10-hit offensive attack, going 2-for-2 with two RBI, two runs scored and a walk. Contravo is now hitting .448 with an incredible .913 slugging percentage and nine RBI in eight games. Mattiello went 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Arute, Schweitzer, Yusko, senior
Morgan Walizer, Corbett and Morton all had one knock.
