Rutgers on the Diamond: For baseball & softball, this B1G thing ain't so bad

I know....everyone looks at football, basketball, hockey, wrestling, and now lacrosse in the B1G.  But the spring has some good stuff brewing for Rutgers - at least so far.

Let's start in reverse order of what we usually do.  Look at the softball standings.  Go on, look.

		Overall		Conference
2015 SOFTBALL		W-L	%	W-L	%
1.	Northwestern	17-11	.607	5-0	1.000
2.	Michigan	31-5	.861	5-1	.833
	Minnesota	29-5	.853	5-1	.833
4.	Nebraska	17-14	.548	5-2	.714
5.	Purdue	23-11	.676	4-2	.667
	Rutgers	14-9	.609	4-2	.667
7.	Maryland	21-15	.583	3-3	.500
	Illinois	11-20	.355	3-3	.500
9.	Ohio State	17-13	.567	2-4	.333
	Penn State	17-16	.515	2-4	.333
11.	Iowa	11-26	.297	2-6	.250
12.	Michigan State	16-17	.485	1-5	.167
	Indiana	10-26	.278	1-5	.167
14.	Wisconsin	13-18	.419	0-5	.000

I know we're only two weekends into the conference schedule, but softball has won those two series - both on the road - and sits tied for 5th place.  I'm happy.

And while baseball struggled a bit in the non-con portion of the schedule, now that we're looking at conference wins and losses, look who is tied for 6th place?  Go ahead, look.  And smile.

2015 BASEBALL		Overall		Conference
		W-L-T	%	W-L	%
1.	Nebraska	21-7-0	.750	3-0	1.000
	Iowa	17-6-0	.739	3-0	1.000
3.	Maryland	18-7-0	.720	4-2	.667
	Ohio State	18-7-0	.720	4-2	.667
	Northwestern	7-19-0	.269	2-1	.667
6.	Rutgers	8-16-0	.333	3-3	.500
	Illinois	19-6-1	.750	1-1	.500
	Penn State	8-14-0	.364	1-1	.500
9.	Michigan State	12-12-0	.500	2-3	.400
10.	Michigan	14-12-0	.538	2-4	.333
	Purdue	9-18-0	.333	1-2	.333
12.	Indiana	16-8-0	.667	1-4	.200
13.	Minnesota	8-15-0	.348	1-5	.167

Baseball won its first series at Purdue and took Ohio State (18-7) to the wire in the rubber game last Sunday, losing a pitchers' dual, 1-0.  Sophomore Gaby Rosa (1-2) permitted just two hits and one run over seven frames, but took the tough-luck defeat. The right-hander recorded 12 outs through the air. The big story in the series occurred on Saturday as freshman Kyle Walker blasted a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Rutgers baseball a 4-2 walk-off victory over Ohio State at Bainton Field. It was the first home Big Ten win for the Scarlet Knights. Through that point, RU (8-15) had won five of its last six games.

On the road at Purdue, a home run from junior Melanie Slowinski in the tenth inning lifted Rutgers softball to a 2-1 victory over Purdue on Sunday at the Boilermaker Softball Stadium. The Scarlet Knights claimed the series over the Boilermakers with the win.

RU improved to an overall record of 14-9 and a mark of 4-2 in Big Ten play. Purdue falls to a record of 23-11 overall and a 4-2 mark in conference action.

After a cancellation due to weather on Friday, the two squads played a doubleheader on Saturday, splitting the contests. The Scarlet Knights recorded a 5-0 shutout over the Boilermakers in the first game of the day, followed by an 11-8 loss in game two.

"We did real well in the first game. Alyssa (Landrith) pitched very well today. She kept Purdue off balance and shut them out. We also drove in five runs and played a clean defensive game," said head coach Jay Nelson.

"In the second game, we became a little complacent. There were a few things we shouldn't let happen, such as letting up bunts and steals. We have to tighten those things up."

Big Ten Softball Players of the Week

Player of the Week
Allie Bauch, Illinois, Jr., 2B

• Led the conference with a .714 batting average and a .765 on-base percentage on the week as Illinois posted three victories over Indiana

Pitcher of the Week

Alyssa Landrith, Rutgers, Sr., LHP

• Did not allow an earned run over 17.0 innings pitched in a pair of complete-game victories over Purdue
• Scattered eight total hits, holding opposing hitters to a conference-best .136 batting average
• Registered her second shutout of the season and the 23^rd of her career in the opening game against the Hoosiers
• Struck out five batters, while allowing only three hits in 10.0 innings of work in the series finale

Freshman of the Week

Carly Thomas, Illinois, CF

• Paced all Big Ten freshmen with a .643 batting average and 1.429 slugging percentage in four games for the Illini
• Drove in a conference-leading 13 runs, including seven in the series finale against Indiana

And just so we don't forget about facilities.....

The goal for completing funding for the Fred Hill Training Facility - for both baseball and softball - is June.  Back in January, Rutgers held a fundraiser (maybe more a kickoff) to solicit funds. You can contribute...you know we need the money.  Let's start reaching deep, friends.

And more recently....

Here's the Boilermaker Softball Stadium - yes, stadium -where Rutgers just took two of three.  Do I need to show you Rutgers' field?  Don't make me do it.......it ain't pretty.

Softball Results and Upcoming Schedule

3/28/15	at Purdue *	West Lafayette, Ind.	W, 5-0
	at Purdue *	West Lafayette, Ind.	L, 11-8
3/29/15	at Purdue *	West Lafayette, Ind.	W, 2-1
4/01/15	at Stony Brook	Stony Brook, N.Y.	3:00 p.m. ET
	at Stony Brook	Stony Brook, N.Y.	5:00 p.m. ET
4/03/15	vs. Michigan State *	RU Softball Complex	4:00 p.m. ET
4/04/15	vs. Michigan State *	RU Softball Complex	1:00 p.m. ET
4/05/15	vs. Michigan State *	RU Softball Complex	12:00 p.m. ET

Baseball Results and Upcoming Schedule

3/24/15	vs. NJIT	Bainton Field	W, 5-3
3/25/15	vs. Rider	Bainton Field	W, 9-3
3/27/15	vs. Ohio State *	Bainton Field	L, 13-4
3/28/15	vs. Ohio State *	Bainton Field	W, 4-2
3/29/15	vs. Ohio State *	Bainton Field	L, 1-0
3/31/15	vs. Manhattan	Bainton Field	3:00 p.m. ET
4/01/15	vs. Monmouth N.J.	Bainton Field	3:00 p.m. ET
4/03/15	vs. Minnesota *	Bainton Field	3:00 p.m. ET
4/04/15	vs. Minnesota *	Bainton Field	1:00 p.m. ET
4/05/15	vs. Minnesota *	Bainton Field	1:00 p.m. ET