MONTCLAIR, N.J. (April 6, 2019) – Rutgers University-Camden sophomore pitcher Sarah Byrnes did everything she could do in her effort to help the Scarlet Raptors in their New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader at powerful Montclair State University.
 
Despite her two complete-game efforts, however, the Scarlet Raptors lost to the Red Hawks, 3-2 in nine innings, and 6-5 in the bottom of the seventh inning of the nightcap.
 
Byrnes finished the day pitching 14-2/3 innings, allowing 18 hits and nine runs, only three of them earned. She walked three and struck out 16.
 
The losses dropped Rutgers-Camden to 6-10 overall and 2-4 in the NJAC. The Scarlet Raptors have lost six straight games.
 
Montclair State improves to 23-5 overall and 4-2 in the NJAC. The Red Hawks have won their last five games against the Scarlet Raptors.
 
Rutgers-Camden returns to action Monday with a 3 p.m. non-conference doubleheader at Alvernia University.
   
After both teams scored an eighth-inning run, the Red Hawks pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Starting with a runner at second base for the second straight inning under the international tie-breaker rule, Montclair State plated the run on a single to right field by junior third baseman Elena Radesich. The base hit made a winner out of junior relief pitcher Nicole Majewski, who worked the final two innings after relieving junior starter Valentina Cucci in the top of the eighth.
 
Rutgers-Camden took a 2-1 lead in the top of the eighth when junior third baseman Rachel Edwards hit a two-out RBI single to right field, driving home sophomore shortstop Nina Arroyo. The Red Hawks answered in their half of the eighth on a two-out RBI single by Cucci.
 
Prior to the wild finish, Cucci and Byrnes were locked in a tight pitching duel. The Raptors scored a second-inning run when Byrnes singled, was sacrificed to second by Edwards and reached third on a two-out infield single by senior center fielder Lauren Glaze. Freshman second baseman Jordan Howey reached on an error, plating the run.
 
Montclair State tied the game in the fourth on a leadoff double by Cucci and a RBI single by junior left fielder Blake Saperstein.
 
Edwards, pictured above, went 3-for-3 with one RBI to lead the Rutgers-Camden attack, while Cucci and Saperstein both had two hits for Montclair State.
 
Byrnes (4-6) threw another stellar game for the Scarlet Raptors, allowing seven hits and just one earned run in her eight-innings-plus. The runs in extra innings are unearned due to the runner placed on base with the international tie-breaker rule. Byrnes walked two and struck out 11.
   
Montclair State scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning after Rutgers-Camden tied the game with a run in the top of the frame.
 
With two outs, Cucci walked and was replaced by pinch-runner Katie DeBell. Saperstein singled through the left side and senior right fielder Sam DiClementi ended the game with a RBI double to right center.
 
That hit came moments after the Raptors tied the game in the top of the seventh, sparked by a bunt single from senior designated hitter Kacie Pisani. Sophomore catcher Alexis Davis sacrificed her to second base and she scored on a RBI single by Arroyo.
 
The Raptors scored a run in the third on a walk to Howey and a RBI double by Davis. Montclair State, however, countered with four runs in the bottom of the frame, three of them unearned. Radesich capped the frame with a two-run single.
 
With two outs in the fourth inning, Edwards ignited a Rutgers-Camden rally with a walk. Freshman left fielder Kimmy Musarra followed with a single and they both scored on a two-run triple by freshman right fielder Karlie Kennedy. The Raptors tied the game in the top of the fifth when Pisani had a bunt single, advanced on a passed ball and a fly to right, and scored on a single by junior first baseman Marissa Beebe.
 
Montclair State regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth on a RBI single by Saperstein, setting the stage for the big seventh inning.
 
Majewski (6-1) picked up her second win of the day with 2/3 of an inning in relief, striking out one. Byrnes (4-7) worked 6-2/3 innings, allowing 11 hits and six runs, only two earned. She walked one and struck out five.
 
Saperstein went 4-for-4 with one run and two RBIs for the Red Hawks.
 
Pisani, Davis and Kennedy had two hits apiece for the Raptors. Kennedy notched two RBIs and Pisani scored twice.