A Sunday sweep puts Rutgers Softball over .500

Considering the crazy weather we’ve been having in the Northeast, spending a weekend in Boca Raton isn’t a bad way to start spring break. Even if you have to play some softball.

And taking three of five games isn’t bad either, as Rutgers Softball moved over .500 (12-11) by winning two games on Sunday to wrap up the Parents’ Weekend Tournament at Florida Atlantic.

Both starters, junior Whitney Jones and sophomore Cambria Keefer won their fifth games each as the Knights beast UTEP, 7-2 and LIU-Brooklyn, 4-1. Jones allowed one run in six innings against UTEP, and Keefer surrendered just three hits in her complete game victory over LIU. Keefer leads the staff with a 2.79 ERA.

Rebecca Hall’s offense has been a big part of the Knights’ success. Her six triples this season are tied for the fifth most in a single season all-time at Rutgers. The school record was set at 10 by Juliette Brooks in 1996. And with three hits, Hall moves into sixth place all-time at Rutgers with 189 career hits, surpassing Mandy Craig (2008-11) in the process.

Rutgers had dropped the opener of the tournament on Friday, losing to Stony Brook, 5-2. They then split the two games on Saturday, beating Pittsburgh, 7-5 and losing to Florida A & M, 4-1. Catcher Sierra Maddox went 3-for-4 with two RBI’s and a homerun against Pitt as Jons got the win and freshman Bianca Vozenilek her first save of the season.

Up Next

Pity the poor softball team. They are staying in Boca Raton until a game at Florida Atlantic on Wednesday, March 14 at 6 p.m. Rutgers then heads to Macon, Georgia for Mercer’s Bear Classic from March 16-18. The tourney at Mercer has two games each against Bucknell and Mercer and a single game versus Austin Peay. That will be the last weekend before Big Ten play starts at Wisconsin on March 23.

Big Ten Players of the Week

Rachel Lewis, Northwestern || 2B – Fr.

• Batted .438 with a .526 on-base percentage and 1.188 slugging percentage last week, collecting three home runs and three doubles with 11 RBI and six runs scored as the Wildcats swept five games at the Houston Hilton Plaza Classic
• Finished a triple short of the cycle in the tournament finale win over Lipscomb, registering a career-high five FBI and scoring twice
• Had two hits, including the tie-breaking solo home run in the top of the seventh inning, in Northwestern’s 5-4 win over tournament host Houston

Co-Pitcher of the Week

Allison Doocy, Iowa || RHP – So.

• Posted a 2-0 record with a 0.00 ERA and one complete game in the circle last weekend, adding 18 strikeouts and three walks in 11.0 innings of work as Iowa won three of four games at the Grand Canyon Invitational
• Tossed a four-hit shutout against Georgetown on Sunday, striking out a career-high 15 batters, including the final 10, for the most strikeouts by an Iowa pitcher since Feb. 13, 2009 (Brittany Weil vs. Kent State)
• Allowed just three hits and an unearned run in the first four innings of a five-inning win over tournament host Grand Canyon

Co-Pitcher of the Week

Meghan Beaubien, Michigan || LHP – Fr.

• Went 3-0 in the circle with a 0.93 ERA and one complete game last week, striking out 25 and walking two while allowing six hits across 15.0 innings of work to help Michigan to a five-game sweep at the FAU Parents’ Weekend Tournament
• Recorded a career-high 16 strikeouts in complete-game win over Ball State
• Held opponents to a .122 batting average and registered a 0.53 WHIP last weekend

Freshman of the Week

Kenna Wilkey, Northwestern || RHP

• Went 4-0 with a 0.00 ERA in the circle last week with one complete game shutout and three wins in relief across 20.2 innings pitched, allowing nine hits while striking out 16 as opponents batted .129 against her
• Tossed a three-hit shutout in a non-conference game against Big Ten foe Penn State in the tournament opener
• Came on in relief in the first inning of the rematch against PSU and struck out seven without allowing a hit over the final six innings, in addition to hitting a home run and driving in three runs, as the Wildcats rallied for the victory