CLERMONT, Fla. (March 20, 2019) – Sophomore pitcher Sarah Byrnes hurled a pair of complete-game gems for the Rutgers University-Camden softball team, but unearned runs in the second contest led to a split for the Scarlet Raptors here Wednesday at the PFX Spring Games.
 
Byrnes tossed a four-hitter in the opener as the Raptors defeated Wesleyan University (Middletown, Connecticut), 7-1. In the Raptors' second game, she allowed only five hits, but was victimized by three unearned runs in a 3-2 loss to Stevenson University (Owings Mills, Maryland).
 
The split leaves Rutgers-Camden with a 3-3 record during its spring trip to Florida, while Byrnes is 2-2.
 
Rutgers-Camden has a day off Thursday at the Spring Games. The Scarlet Raptors conclude their Florida trip on Friday with two more contests at the Spring Games. They face McDaniel (Westminster, Maryland) at 9:30 and Western New England (Springfield, Mass.) at 11:45 a.m.
   
Sophomore Sarah Byrnes hurled a four-hitter, walking one and striking out eight, as she raised her record to 2-1. Byrnes allowed only one earned run in the bottom of the sixth inning. By then, the Scarlet Raptors owned a 6-0 lead, built around a trio of two-run innings in the second, third and fifth.
 
Rutgers-Camden scored all the runs Byrnes needed with a pair of unearned tallies in the second inning. Senior designated player Kendra Pfister hit a leadoff single and was sacrificed to second by junior first baseman Marissa Beebe. After senior Kacie Pisani was inserted as a pinch-runner and junior third baseman Rachel Edwards lined out to second, senior center fielder Lauren Glaze made big things happen in small ways. Glaze dropped down a bunt single and came all the way around to score on the heels of Pisani when Wesleyan's catcher threw the ball away.
 
In the third inning, sophomore catcher Alexis Davis singled to start a two-run rally. Freshman left fielder Kimmy Musarra walked and freshman second baseman Jordan Howey had an infield single to load the bases. Sophomore shortstop Nina Arroyo singled home one run and Pfister delivered a sacrifice fly.
 
Musarra opened the two-run fifth with a walk. One out later she stole second and advanced to third on a ground out. Pfister and Beebe followed with back-to-back RBI doubles.
 
Wesleyan (5-5) spoiled Byrnes' shutout bid in the sixth when pinch-hitter Hayley Lipson walked and was removed for pinch-runner Jo Jo Diaz. A one-out sacrifice bunt moved Diaz to second and she advanced to third on a single by pitcher Danielle Rinaldi. Designated player Sophia Sciarappa delivered a RBI single to left field.
 
The Raptors tacked on their final run in the seventh, sparked by singles from Howey and Arroyo. With two outs, Edwards stroked a RBI single to center.
 
Howey, Arroyo and Pfister had two hits apiece to power the Raptors' 10-hit attack.
   
In s pitching duel between Byrnes and Stevenson's Morghan Fulton, both pitchers hurled a five-hitter without allowing an earned run.
 
Stevenson scored all three of its runs off Byrnes in the third inning, which was sparked when second baseman Danielle Ebbinghausen reached on an error to open the frame. A sacrifice, single and fly out followed, setting the stage for a two-out, two-run double by shortstop Erin Stephey. First baseman Erin Muir added a run-scoring single.
 
Rutgers-Camden loaded the bases in the bottom of the third inning without scoring. The Scarlet Raptors didn't plate a run until a pair of unearned tallies came across in the bottom of the seventh inning. Beebe opened the frame reaching on an error and was erased on a fielder's choice by Edwards. Glaze reached on an infield throwing error and motored all the way to third base as Edwards scored the Raptors' first run. Byrnes added an RBI single before Fulton retired the last two Raptors to nail down the win.
 
Byrnes walked three and struck out five in the game, while going 2-for-3 with one RBI.
 
In four games this season, Byrnes has worked 27 innings and allowed 17 runs – only five of them were earned. She is 2-2 with a 1.30 ERA.