Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CAMDEN, N.J. (March 31, 2018) – It was better late than never for the Rutgers University-Camden softball team as it opened its New Jersey Athletic Conference schedule here Saturday.
 
The Scarlet Raptors posted game-winning rallies in their last at bat in both games against New Jersey City University as they opened their NJAC schedule with a 5-3 and 4-3 twinbill sweep. In both games, it was freshman second baseman Nina Arroyo (Delran, NJ/Delran) who provided the game-winning hit, including a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning of the nightcap.
 
Rutgers-Camden improves to 9-6 overall and 2-0 in the NJAC, while New Jersey City falls to 4-10 and 0-2.
 
The Scarlet Raptors host The College of New Jersey Tuesday in another NJAC doubleheader, beginning at 3 p.m.
   
Trailing, 3-0, the Scarlet Raptors got one run back in the bottom of the third inning and erupted for four runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull out the victory.
 
The winning rally was sparked by a leadoff single in the sixth inning from senior third baseman Gabby Pfeiffer (Mount Holly, NJ/Rancocas Valley). Senior first baseman Mariah Hans (Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights) followed with a walk. Two outs later, freshman left fielder Maggie Foss (Washington Township, NJ/Washington Township) singled home a run and  sophomore shortstop Rachel Edwards (Washington Township, NJ/Washington Township) walked to load the bases. Senior catcher Mackenzie Mason (Penns Grove, NJ/Penns Grove) tied the game with an RBI walk.  Arroyo followed with a two-run single to center.
 
Until the sixth inning, the Raptors were held in check by NJCU junior pitcher Christina Mezey, who hurled complete games while suffering the loss in both contests. Mezey finished with a five-hitter, allowing seven walks and five earned runs. She struck out seven.
 
Raptor freshman Kennedy Whalen (Williamstown, NJ/Gateway Regional) scattered six hits and four walks over her complete-game effort, raising her record to 4-1. She allowed three earned runs and struck out five.
 
NJCU bunched four of its hits in a three-run third inning, including a two-run single by senior center fielder Julie Squeo. Rutgers-Camden got one run back in the bottom of the frame after a leadoff double by Arroyo. She was sacrificed to third by sophomore right fielder Lauren Glaze (Collingswood, NJ/Collingswood). She scored on a ground out by Pfeiffer.
 
Arroyo went 2-for-3 with one run and two RBIs from the leadoff spot for the Scarlet Raptors.
   
In the nightcap, it was Rutgers-Camden that grabbed a 3-0 lead, scoring once in the first inning and twice in the fifth, before NJCU tied the game with a three-run sixth. In the bottom of the seventh, however, Mason pinch-hit for winning pitcher Kendra Pfister (Dacula, GA/Dacula) and drew a leadoff walk. She was sacrificed to second by sophomore catcher Ashley Croge (Somerdale, NJ/Sterling). One out later, Arroyo delivered her walk-off single.
 
The Raptors' first-inning run was sparked by a one-out single from junior right fielder Kacie Pisani (Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights). She raced all the way to third base on a sacrifice by Pfeiffer and scored on a passed ball, moments ahead of a triple by Foss.
 
In the fifth inning, the Raptors loaded the bases on walks to Foss and Croge, sandwiched around an error. With two outs, Edwards plated a pair of unearned runs with a double.
 
A walk and four hits – including a two-run single by junior third baseman Hannah Gavin – helped NJCU tie the game in the sixth inning.
 
Pfister (4-5) allowed seven hits, two walks and three earned runs in her complete game, while striking out five. Arroyo went 3-for-5 with one RBI to account for one-third of the Raptors' nine hits. Edwards was 1-for-2 with two RBIs.
 
For the doubleheader, Foss went 2-for-2 with two runs and a triple, while Arroyo was 5-for-8 with one run and three RBIs. Edwards, pictured above, went 2-for-4 with one run and two RBIs, while also collecting two putouts and five assists in seven chances at shortstop.