CAMDEN, N.J. (May 1, 2021) – The Rutgers University-Camden softball team knew it needed a doubleheader sweep here Saturday in its fight to gain a favorable playoff seeding for the New Jersey Athletic Conference playoffs.
 
The Scarlet Raptors did just that, with plenty of heroics sprinkled in.
 
Junior designated player Karlie Kennedy ripped a two-run game-winning home run in the bottom of the eighth inning in Game One and senior pitcher Sarah Byrnes tossed a four-hit shutout in Game Two to earn her second complete game victory of the day as Rutgers-Camden swept Rutgers-Newark, 4-3 and 2-0, to close the NJAC regular season.
 
NJAC bracket
 
The Scarlet Raptors earned the seventh seed in the NJAC playoffs and will host #10 New Jersey City University in a single-elimination game Tuesday at 4 p.m. The winner will advance to the best-of-three NJAC quarterfinals Friday and Saturday (if necessary) at The College of New Jersey.
 
Rutgers-Camden lifted its record to 8-12 overall and 8-10 in the NJAC, while Rutgers-Newark fell to 2-16 and 2-16. The Scarlet Raiders will be the ninth seed in the tournament and play a 4 p.m. game at Ramapo College Tuesday.
 
Between games, the Scarlet Raptors honored their four seniors, citing shortstop Nina Arroyo, first baseman Marissa Beebe, Byrnes and catcher Alexis Davis.
   
The two teams went into extra innings tied at 2-2 before Newark pushed across a run in the top of the frame to grab the lead. Starting the inning with a runner at second base with the international tie-breaker, the Scarlet Raiders used a ground out and a fielder's choice to grab the 3-2 advantage.
 
Beebe was placed at second base to start the bottom of the eighth. She was sacrificed to third by sophomore second baseman Cate Petrucelli before Kennedy unloaded her game-winning home run to left field. It was the second huge home run of the season for Kennedy, who also had a grand slam to help the Raptors beat Montclair State, 6-3, on April 10.
 
Byrnes scattered nine hits, while striking out six, to earn the win. She allowed two earned runs.
 
The Scarlet Raptors took a 1-0 lead in the first inning following a double by Arroyo. A single by Byrnes sent Arroyo to third and she came all the way home when the ball was misplayed in center field.
 
Newark rallied for a pair of runs on four hits in the third inning and junior pitcher Paige Masiello made that 2-1 lead hold up until the bottom of the sixth inning. A one-out double by Petrucelli put the tying run in scoring position. One out later, junior Alexis Schauer dropped a pinch-hit double into right field to tie the game.
 
Kennedy went 3-for-4 with one run and two RBIs in the game, collecting a single, a double and the game-winning home run. In the nightcap, she added a triple to give her a cycle for the doubleheader.
   
Byrnes tossed her 15th complete game of the season and her second shutout, walking only one batter in her four-hitter, while striking out seven. She raised her record to 8-10 and lowered her season ERA to 1.86.
 
Rutgers-Camden scored the only runs she needed in the fourth inning, sparked by a one-out triple from Kennedy. She was squeezed home by freshman third baseman Danielle Quinones. With two outs, sophomore right fielder Jayden Hunter drew a walk and scored on a double to right field by Davis.
 
Byrnes helped her own cause at the plate, going 2-for-3. Kennedy went 4-for-7 with two runs and two RBIs in the doubleheader, while slugging 1.429 with a single, double, triple and home run.
 
Tough-luck losing pitcher Jackie Lara (1-7) hurled six innings, allowing seven hits, one walk and the two earned runs. She struck out one.