NEWARK, N.J. (April 3, 2021) – The Rutgers University-Camden softball team opened its New Jersey Athletic Conference schedule in style here Saturday, sweeping New Jersey City University, 14-2 and 14-1, in a pair of five-inning games.
 
The doubleheader was played at Newark's Branch Brook Park, with the Scarlet Raptors hitting as the home team.
 
The wins even the Raptors' record at 2-2 overall and put them at 2-0 in NJAC play. New Jersey City, which was opening its season, falls to 0-2 overall and in the conference.
 
Rutgers-Camden will play a NJAC doubleheader Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Ramapo College.
   
Rutgers-Camden built a 5-0 lead after two innings and put the game away with a nine-run third, aided by seven hits. After junior Alexis Schauer walked and sophomore Cate Petrucelli singled, freshman third baseman Danielle Quinones delivered her first collegiate hit with a two-run double. Freshman catcher Olivia Bull added her first collegiate hit, a single to drive home Quinones. Before the inning ended, Petrucelli cleared the bases with a three-run double.
 
All of that offense was more than enough to support senior pitcher Sarah Byrnes, who picked up her first of two wins on the day. Byrnes hurled the first four shutout innings, allowing only two hits, while striking out nine. Sophomore Rachel White pitched the final frame, allowing two hits, one walk and two unearned runs. She struck out two.
 
Petrucelli, Bull, senior first baseman Marissa Beebe and sophomore left fielder Jayden Hunter had two hits apiece for Rutgers-Camden. One of Beebe's hits was a two-run home run in the first inning that put the Scarlet Raptors ahead to stay.
   
The Scarlet Raptors kept their hitting shoes on in the second game, while Byrnes hurled four no-hit innings, walking three and striking out four. The Gothic Knights collected their lone hit and run in the fifth off White.
 
With the game scoreless going to the bottom of the third, Rutgers-Camden exploded for another nine-run frame, sparked by a leadoff triple from Quinones. She eventually scored on an infield single by junior center fielder Kimmy Musarra. Later in the frame, Quinones added a RBI double, giving her five total bases in the inning.
 
Rutgers-Camden ripped 16 hits in the game, with Musarra, senior shortstop Nina Arroyo, Byrnes, Beebe, Schauer, Hunter and Quinones all collecting a pair of hits. Arroyo, Byrnes, Hunter and Quinones notched two RBIs apiece.
 
For the doubleheader, Hunter and Beebe collected four hits apiece, while Quinones had four RBIs and was one of seven Raptors with three hits.