BRONX, N.Y. (March 27, 2018) – The Rutgers University-Newark softball team swept a doubleheader at Lehman College, turning in a pair of five-inning routs to improve to 12-3 on the season. The Scarlet Raiders won 9-1 in the opener and 18-3 in the nightcap. The Lightning fall to 4-11.

Rutgers-Newark has now won four-of-five since returning from a stellar Florida Spring Break Trip.

Rutgers-Newark 9, Lehman 1
The Raiders jumped on the home team early, scoring six runs in the first. Sophomore Sarah Stiehler started things off with a walk and came around to score when rookie Julie Contravo earned a free base with the bases loaded.

Freshman Sam Morton added an RBI double, junior Samantha Hoffman drove in a run with a base knock, and Stiehler rounded out the inning with a single that brought Morton home.

Hoffman tacked on another RBI single in the second as the visitors tacked on three more runs to make it 9-0.

The Lightning got one back in the bottom of the fourth, still R-N was able to cruise to a 9-1 victory.

Rookie starter Paige Masiello hurled four stellar frames allowing just one earned run on one hit, walking none, and striking out eight batters to improve to 7-2. Classmate Maranda Jo Shinn closed out the win by striking out the side in the fifth.

Hoffman led the Raiders offensively with a 3-for-3 afternoon and a team-best two RBI.

Rutgers-Newark 18, Lehman 3
Newark poured on runs early and often, scoring at least three times each in the first three innings.

Senior Morgan Walizer opened the squad's account in the nightcap with an RBI rip to right field. Freshman Angela Haines capped the early scoring with an RBI double to make it 3-0 after one.

Contravo provided all the offense in the top of the second, crushing a grand slam to center field, widening the gap to 7-0.

In the third frame, the Raiders put the Lightning away with 10 runs on nine hits while bringing 15 batters to the plate. The first seven hitters reached base safely as five crossed home to make it 12-0.

R-N went on to score five more times, capped off by a Stiehler RBI infield base knock, her second hit of the inning.

From there, the Scarlet Raiders cruised to an 18-3 rout and doubleheader sweep.

Haines led the team with a career day at the dish, going 4-for-4 with a run and two RBI. Stiehler, sophomore Brielle Mattiello, and rookie Jaclyn Arute each recorded two hits. Mattiello had a run and two RBI, Stiehler added two runs and two RBI, and Arute racked up an RBI and three runs. Contravo racked up a career-best seven RBI featuring her grand slam.

Shinn earned her first career victory with three innings of work, allowing two runs while walking two and fanning five. Walizer closed out the game with two frames of one-run ball, walking none and striking out two batters.

The Raiders have a quick turnaround as they host St. Joes-Brooklyn tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m.