MAHWAH, N.J. (April 28, 2019) – Both the Rutgers University-Camden and Rutgers University-Newark softball teams knew they had already been eliminated from New Jersey Athletic Conference playoff contention by the time their season-ending makeup doubleheader was played here Sunday.
 
Both squads were eliminated Saturday when Stockton swept New Jersey City in a doubleheader to claim the sixth and final NJAC playoff berth. That left the Scarlet Raptors and the Scarlet Raiders playing to see which one of them finished seventh in the NJAC standings, as both entered the contest with 5-11 conference records.
 
In a doubleheader that was played at Ramapo College, due to Rutgers-Newark's field conditions, the Scarlet Raiders swept the Scarlet Raptors by scores of 4-3 and 2-1, to end their season at 16-24 overall and 7-11 in the NJAC.
 
Rutgers-Camden closes its season at 10-22 overall and 5-13 in conference play.
   
Newark scored all four of its runs with in the bottom of the fifth inning to overcome Rutgers-Camden's 3-0 lead. The Scarlet Raiders collected four hits after Rutgers-Camden sophomore pitcher Sarah Byrnes retired the first batter of the frame, with the game-winning hit being a three-run homer to left field by catcher Sam Morton.
 
Rutgers-Camden had built its lead with two runs in the third and one in the top of the fifth off winning pitcher Paige Masiello (7-7). In the third, junior shortstop Rachel Edwards hit a one-out double and scored on a single by freshman second baseman Karlie Kennedy, who advanced to second on a throw to the plate. Kennedy was sacrificed to third by freshman left fielder Kimmy Musarra and scored on an infield single by senior right fielder Kacie Pisani. In the fifth, the Raptors added an unearned run when Edwards reached second base on an infield throwing error. She was sacrificed to third by Kennedy and scored on an infield single by Pisani.
 
Byrnes (7-14) finished with a seven-hitter, including two hits apiece by Morton and center fielder Samantha Hoffman. Byrnes struck out seven and didn't walk a batter.
 
Masiello also had a seven-hitter, striking out three without a walk. Pisani and junior first baseman Marissa Beebe both went 2-for-3, with Pisani driving home two runs.
   
In another tight pitching duel, the Newark combination of Michelle Capizzano and Jackie Lara held the Scarlet Raptors to one unearned run to spoil a fine outing by Raptor senior Kendra Pfister. Pfister (3-6), pictured above, allowed eight hits, three walks and two earned runs in her final collegiate outing, while striking out four.
 
Newark plated both of its runs in the first inning on a hit batsman and three hits before Pfister shut the Raiders down the rest of the way. Rutgers-Camden scored its lone run in the top of the second after Edwards drew a leadoff walk and advanced all the way to third when sophomore catcher Alexis Davis reached on a throwing error by Capizzano. A walk to Musarra loaded the bases with one out, and Lara relieved Capizzano. She walked freshman pinch-hitter Alexis Schauer, forcing home the unearned run, before Lara wriggled out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts. She ended up working 5-2/3 innings of four-hit shutout ball, walking three and striking out seven, to raise her record to 6-7.
 
Sophomore shortstop Nina Arroyo went 2-for-4 to account for half of Rutgers-Camden's hits.