Rutgers Baseball & Softball: the diamonds need some polishing

On April 6 - just two weeks ago - the baseball/softball story was very upbeat.  Softball was 19-9, 7-2 in the B1G and tied for second place.  The women had just swept MSU in a three-game weekend series.

While not quite as rosy, the baseball story wasn't too bad, either.  The team was 10-19, 5-4 in the B1G, but had just won two B1G series., and they were in fifth place.

How times have changed.

Baseball

Baseball now sits in 10^th place, tied with Northwestern, a team that, a while back, some folks in Evanston had suggested be dropped because they weren't very good.

The baseball team is now 12-26-1 overall, 5-10 in the B1G and has been swept in two consecutive series against Indiana and Michigan State.  Throw in midweek losses to Manhattan and Monmouth along the way, and it isn't a good look for Joe Litterio's group.  Early on in the season, they lost to Indiana State in Terra Haute.  ISU, a team that is now 16-21.  ISU, a team that recently beat Indiana in a game that our friends at Crimson Quarry called "rock bottom" for the Hoosiers.

Things have not gone well for baseball.  A three-game sweep at the hands of Michigan State at home this past weekend puts the team in a very precarious position for the post-season.  The reasons may lie in the statistics: in the Big Ten, the Knights are last in batting average, last in slugging percentage, last in ERA, and just ahead of our friends from Northwestern, who are in last position, in on base percentage.

The team gets a break from the Big Ten schedule as it faces local opponents over the next five games, including a home and home and neutral site series against Seton Hall.  The team lost an 11-4 game against Wagner earlier in the season on Staten Island.  This will be an opportunity to get pay back, both for the team and the coach; Litterio spent 12 years as the head coach of the Seahawks.

Results and Upcoming Schedule

Softball

While things aren't quite that bad with softball, the team has hit some serious bumps recently.  It is now 24-14, 8-7 in conference, tied for sixth place with Maryland.  And unlike the baseball team, softball finds itself in the middle of the pack in most statistical categories.  So, the future looks a bit better for the women to make the Big Ten Championship.

Wrapping up its weekend series in Ohio, the Rutgers softball team split its doubleheader against the Buckeyes on Saturday afternoon in Columbus. The Scarlet Knights captured a 3-2 victory in the first game, followed by an 8-4 loss in the next.  OSU claimed the series win, 2-1.

Senior Jackie Bates headlined the day with three home runs across both contests. Bates now holds the Rutgers' single-season record with 16 homers this year and is now tied for the top spot in the career record books with 34 long balls.

The midweek doubleheader against Maryland will be important for the Knights.  It's at home and it is a statement, of sorts, if they can take the twin bill.  And hopefully traveling to Happy Valley over the weekend will cure more ills as they take on the Nitty Kitties.

Results and Upcoming Schedule