CAMDEN, N.J. (April 24, 2021) – The Rutgers University-Camden softball team took advantage of four unearned runs to roll up eight runs in the opening game of a doubleheader, but a pair of William Paterson pitchers tossed a five-hit shutout in the nightcap as the teams split a New Jersey Athletic Conference twinbill here Saturday.
 
Rutgers-Camden won the opener, 8-1, and Paterson took the nightcap, 1-0.
 
The split leaves the Scarlet Raptors at 6-10 overall and 6-8 in the NJAC, while Paterson stands at 10-8 and 9-5.
 
Rutgers-Camden will play a 3 p.m. NJAC doubleheader on Tuesday at Rowan University.
   
In the opening game, senior Sarah Byrnes tossed a two-hitter, walking one and striking out eight for the Scarlet Raptors. Byrnes (6-8) also helped her own cause at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs.
 
Paterson, meanwhile, made five errors behind a trio of pitchers, with senior southpaw Caitlyn Massaro (4-4) taking the loss. She worked three innings, allowing eight hits and six runs, only three of them earned, while walking one and striking out one.
 
Rutgers-Camden scored an unearned run in the second inning after junior designated player Karlie Kennedy ripped a leadoff double. She came around to score when sophomore second baseman Cate Petrucelli advanced all the way to second base on a pair of errors by the Pioneers' second baseman and center fielder.
 
Byrnes opened the third inning with a single. Senior first baseman Marissa Beebe was retired on a sacrifice, but Paterson threw the ball away trying to get Byrnes advancing to third, allowing her to score.
 
Paterson cut the gap to 2-1 with a run in the top of the fourth inning on a pair of hits, a fielder's choice and a double steal, with senior shortstop Carly McDaniel swiping home on the back end of the play.
 
The Scarlet Raptors broke the game open with a four-run outburst in the bottom of the fourth, sparked by leadoff singles from sophomore Jayden Hunter and senior catcher Alexis Davis. After junior center fielder Kimmy Musarra dropped down a sacrifice bunt, the ball was thrown away, allowing both Hunter and Davis to score. Senior shortstop Nina Arroyo followed with a single, setting the stage for a RBI single by Byrnes. Beebe squeezed home Arroyo with the fourth run of the inning.
 
In the sixth inning, Musarra singled, stole second and scored on a single by Byrnes. Byrnes advanced to second when Beebe was thrown out, 9-3, on a would-be hit to right field. Byrnes advanced to third and scored on a fielding error by Paterson's second pitcher of the game.
 
In addition to three hits by Byrnes, Arroyo and Kennedy both went 2-for-4 with one run scored.
   
The second game was a duel between a pair of hurlers from both teams, as freshman Lexi Corio (3-0) earned the win by working five innings of four-hit ball. Massaro came on for the final two innings, allowing only one hit to earn her second save.
 
For Rutgers-Camden, Byrnes pitched six innings of four-hit shutout ball, striking out six, sandwiched around one inning by sophomore Rachel White. The Pioneers scored their lone run in the fourth against White (0-2), who walked McDaniel to open the inning. Two outs and a stolen base later, junior left fielder Lauren Naveo singled home McDaniel.
 
Musarra was the lone player in the game with multiple hits, going 2-for-3.
 
For the doubleheader, both Musarra and Byrnes went 3-for-6 with two runs scored. Byrnes added two RBIs. Arroyo was 3-for-7 with one run, while Kennedy and Petrucelli both had two hits.
 
Byrnes ended up pitching 13 innings in the doubleheader, allowing six hits and one earned run. She walked one and struck out 14.