Rutgers Softball fights back for win at PSU

A win in the third game made the trip to Happy Valley a bit more palatable for the Scarlet Knights. After dropping an extra inning opener on Friday and then a 7-0 middle game, the Knights bounced back with a 6-4 win on Sunday over Penn State (6-11, 20-26 B1G).

Nicole Bowman plated three runs with a seventh inning hit to put the Knights in front for good. Sophomore Whitney Jones got the win, retiring the last seven Lion batters. The young Knights were led by Nicolette Anico (3 for 4) and freshmen Taryn Atlee and Anyssa Iliopoulos, each with two hits. Bowman also had two hits.

In a back-and-forth opener on Friday night, Rebecca Hall had a career best six RBI in the 11-9 extra inning loss. Saturday’s game was decided early as Penn State scored four runs in the bottom of the first and then went on to a 7-0 victory. Juniors Rebecca Hall and Sierra Maddox each had two hits in the loss.

Rutgers stands at 12-31 (3-12 B1G) as they head into next weekend’s home series against Maryland (9-33-1, 2-13 B1G). Friday’s opener (2:00 pm) will only be the fourth home game of the season for the Scarlet.

Stats and Standings

Rutgers team batting average is a respectable eighth best in the conference at .288. The pitching, though, continues to be an issue as the team ERA (6.71) still sits at the bottom of the B1G.

Freshman Taryn Atlee is the conference’s third best hitter with a .411 BA. Rebecca Hall is among the leaders with her .364 BA. Hall also is the number five homerun hitter with 11 dingers and 44 RBI (fifth best).