Newark, NJ | The Scarlet Raiders softball program kicked off their 2019 campaign this afternoon at the Frederick Douglass Field against non-conference opponents, St. Joseph's College - Brooklyn. The Scarlet Raiders got the afternoon started in the win column with a 3-0 win, however, the Bears of St. Joseph's College - Brooklyn came out strong in game two to with 4-0 to split the doubleheader to improve to 2-6.
The Scarlet Raiders (1-1) were led by
Paige Masiello (1-0) in the circle for the first game as she pitched four innings and struck out three en route to the first win of the season.
Sarah Stiehler finished the doubleheader 3-for-6 from the dish while
Sam Morton picked up an RBI while going 2-for-5.
Game 1: Rutgers-Newark 3, St. Joseph's College - Brooklyn 0
Masiello hurled 72 pitches in four innings of action and allowed just one hit. Masiello walked three batters in the opening inning but was able to get out of the inning without a blemish.
The Scarlet Raiders broke the deadlock in the fourth inning when
Julie Contravo crossed the plate after reaching third on a single to left followed by a fielding error. After Stiehler popped out for the second out of the inning it looked as if Contravo might get stranded at third.
Megan Tomaselli battled at the plate, seeing 10 pitches and fouling six of them. Tomaselli would eventually be walked. Morton was walked shortly after to load the bases, giving way to
Brianna Hernandez. Hernandez would be patient at the plate and would earn a walk which brought home Contravo from third and opened the scoring.
Contravo would double the Scarlet Raiders' lead when she hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score
Jaclyn Arute from third after she reached via a single up the middle to start the inning. The Scarlet Raiders would add one more to their total and kept the visiting Bears off of the scoreboard to start their season with a win.
Game 2: St. Joseph's College - Brooklyn 4, Rutgers-Newark 0
Michelle Capizzano got her first collegiate start this afternoon and for three innings kept the Bears off of the scoreboard. The Scarlet Raiders, who got their bats going at the end of game one, saw their bats cool off while the visitors caught fire in the fourth.
The Bears scored all four of their runs in the fourth inning scattering six hits to get the job done.
Jackie Lara came in for relief and was able to get out of the inning without allowing any more runs the rest of the game. The Scarlet Raiders would leave four stranded over the course of the last four innings which allowed the Bears to stay ahead.
Rutgers-Newark travels to Florida tomorrow and will play 12 games over the course of seven days as part of The Spring Games.
