CAMDEN, N.J. (April 13, 2019) – The Rutgers University-Camden softball team ran into another nationally-ranked opponent here Saturday as it was swept in by Kean University, 9-0 and 4-0, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader.
 
The Cougars, who improved to 26-5 overall and 6-4 in the rugged NJAC, are ranked 23rd in the nation in this week's National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III poll.
 
The sweep extends the Scarlet Raptors' losing streak to 12 games, dropping their record to 6-16 overall and 2-8 in the NJAC. Eight of those losses have come against Top-25 teams, while the other four defeats came against teams with a combined 33-8 record after sweeping the Raptors.
 
Rutgers-Camden was held to only two singles in each game, with freshman right fielder Karlie Kennedy (pictured above) notching a hit in both contests.
 
 The Scarlet Raptors return to action Tuesday when they host Stockton University in a 3 p.m. NJAC doubleheader.
   
The Cougars rode the two-hit pitching Jackie Riley (11-1) to their opening-game shutout. Riley walked five and struck out nine, allowing only a second-inning single by freshman left fielder Kimmy Musarra and a seventh-inning hit by Kennedy.
 
Kean scored all the runs Riley needed in a two-run third inning off of Raptor sophomore Sarah Byrnes, who allowed a walk to shortstop Gabriella Fredette and a two-run home run by right fielder Caroline Ratti. The Cougars added five runs in the fifth, aided by two-run singles from center fielder Maria Bonfanti and Riley.
 
Riley, who finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBIs, tacked on a run-scoring single in Kean's two-run seventh inning.
 
Byrnes (4-10) worked the first five innings, allowing five hits, two walks and seven earned run. She struck out three.
 
   
Byrnes (4-11) hurled a complete game in the second game, allowing eight hits and two walks while fanning three, with only one of the four runs against her being earned. She matched Kean hurler Taryn DiGiacomo pitching shutout ball until the sixth inning, when a pair of singles, a sacrifice bunt by Riley and an RBI fielder's choice by first baseman Sarah Zengel plated the only run DiGiacomo needed.
 
Kean added three unearned runs, on two errors and three hits, in the seventh inning.
 
DiGiacomo (12-3) hurled no-hit ball until the seventh inning, when junior first baseman Marissa Beebe singled with one out. One out later, Kennedy added a single. DiGiacomo finished with two walks and one strikeout in her two-hit shutout.
 
Byrnes walked two, struck out three and allowed eight hits in the nightcap while completing the doubleheader with 12 innings pitched.