Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (March 14, 2018) – The Rutgers University-Camden comeback kids were at it again on the softball diamond at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic here Wednesday.
 
Although the Scarlet Raptors lost their first game of the day, 2-1 against Gettysburg College, that didn't deter them from creating another miracle comeback on their trip down south. One day after scoring three runs in the top of the seventh inning to stun Shaw University, 7-5, the Scarlet Raptors outdid themselves against Lycoming College. In a game that appeared like the Warriors might win by the eight-run rule, taking an early 8-0 lead, Lycoming instead watched Rutgers-Camden rally all the way back. The Raptors capped the day with a stunning five-run game-winning explosion in the bottom of the seventh inning for a 9-8 victory.
 
Rutgers-Camden, 5-2 on its season-opening southern trip, will play a pair of games Thursday at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic. The Raptors face Emory & Henry College (Emory, Virginia) at 11:30 p.m. and Clarks Summit University (South Abington Township, Penn.) at 1:30 p.m.
   
After both teams scored a first-inning run, the Bullets (2-5) plated the winning run in the top of the sixth inning, sparked by a one-out single from sophomore center fielder Liz Cowell. One out later, she scored on a double to center by senior second baseman Stephanie Leonardo.
 
That run proved to be the difference in an outstanding pitching duel between Scarlet Raptor junior Kendra Pfister (Dacula, GA/Dacula) and the Gettysburg duo of sophomore McKenzie Somers and senior Aileen Reilly. Both teams managed only five hits in the game. The only player with two hits was Gettysburg freshman catcher Shelby Baker, who went 2-for-3.
 
Senior center fielder Gabrielle Castellini (Millville, NJ/Wildwood Catholic) doubled home the Raptors' first-inning run.
 
Pfister (2-2) walked five and struck out five in her complete-game effort. She allowed only one earned run.
   
Rutgers-Camden trailed Lycoming, 8-0, after 3-1/2 innings and, despite plating four runs in the bottom of the fourth, the Scarlet Raptors still trailed, 8-4, entering the bottom of the seventh inning. That's when Rutgers-Camden's proved that seventh-inning lightning can strike twice, on back-to-back days, no less.
 
Castellini opened the bottom of the seventh with a single up the middle and senior first baseman Mariah Hans (Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights) chased her to third with a double down the left field line. Freshman center fielder Maggie Foss (Washington Township, NJ/Washington Township) plated Castellini with a sacrifice fly to left.
 
Sophomore shortstop Rachel Edwards (Washington Township, NJ/Washington Township) drilled an infield single off Lycoming pitcher Liz Nace, putting runners at the corners. After Edwards stole second, senior catcher Mackenzie Mason (Penns Grove, NJ/Penns Grove) lined another infield single off Nace, scoring Hans. Edwards advanced to third and Mason hustled her way into scoring position at second base.
 
Pfister followed with a single to right field, plating Edwards and pushing Mason to third with the tying run. Moments later, senior third baseman Gabby Pfeiffer (Mount Holly, NJ/Rancocas Valley) reached on an error by the Warriors' second baseman, driving home Mason with the tying run and allowing Pfister to reach third base. After the Warriors relieved Nace, freshman second baseman Nina Arroyo (Delran, NJ/Delran) capped the miracle rally with a single up the middle, allowing Pfister to score the winning run and also pick up the victory with four outstanding innings of relief work.
 
Pfister (3-2) allowed only three hits, two walks and one earned run in her long relief outing. She struck out two and pitched shutout ball over the final three innings after allowing her lone run when she entered the game one batter into Lycoming's two-run fourth inning.
 
Rutgers-Camden's four-run fourth inning, which cut their deficit in half to 8-4, included RBI singles from Mason, Pfister and Arroyo, in addition to a run-scoring error,
 
Mason, pictured above, went 4-for-7 (.571) on the day with two runs and two RBIs for the Scarlet Raptors. Hans, Castellini and Arroyo each added three hits.