CAMDEN, N.J. (March 4, 2022) – The first inning of the first game of the season turned out to be a harbinger of the rest of the day as the Rutgers University-Camden softball team was swept by SUNY-New Paltz, 12-8, and 11-1, in a season-opening non-conference doubleheader for both teams here Friday.
 
The games, played under freezing conditions, lasted into the early evening as the Hawks collected 24 hits and 23 runs over 12 innings. The second game was called by the eight-run rule after five innings.
 
Rutgers-Camden returns to action on Saturday, March 12, when the Scarlet Raptors begin their spring break trip with a game against the University of Scranton in Leesburg, Florida.
   
The Hawks took advantage of five hits, three walks and one error to score seven runs in the top of the first inning. All seven scored with two outs after sophomore shortstop Rhionna Bianchini hit a leadoff single and stole second. Two outs later, a walk to sophomore first baseman Kelly Marmorowski and an RBI double by junior center fielder Sydney Bonewit plated the first run. After another walk, junior designated player Juliet Bernstein stroked a two-run single and senior third baseman Julia Mastrup followed with another two-run single. Before the inning ended, the Raptors changed pitchers, while the Hawks added another walk and scored two unearned runs on a throwing error.
 
Rutgers-Camden cut the deficit to 7-3 with a three-run third inning, sparked by a leadoff double from sophomore left fielder Alexa McNee. She advantaged to third on a ground out and scored on a single by junior center fielder Kimmy Musarra. Senior shortstop Meg Gray followed with an RBI double and later scored on a wild pitch.
 
New Paltz countered with four runs in the top of the fourth inning on five hits and an error, with a two-run single by Mastrup capping the frame. Although the Scarlet Raptors chipped away with five runs over the final three innings, they couldn't get closer than four runs.
 
The Raptors scored twice in the fifth after walks to freshman right fielder Emily Dubiago and Musarra set the stage for senior designated player Alexis Schauer. Schauer stroked an RBI single to right field that kicked away for an error, allowing a second run to score and Schauer to reach third base. Rutgers-Camden notched a single run in the sixth on a single by freshman third baseman Luci Hutchinson and an RBI single by Dubiago that scored pinch-runner Mya Bocchicchio.
 
The Raptors added their final runs in the bottom of the seventh after Schauer was hit by a pitch to open the frame. She advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a single by junior pitcher Rachel White. Sophomore catcher Olivia Bull followed with a walk and later scored on a pinch-hit double by sophomore Zoe Rodriguez.
 
Marmorowski, Bonewit and Mastrup collected two hits apiece for New Paltz, with Mastrup driving home four runs. Senior Katie Quagliana (1-0) picked up the win, working five innings of four-hit ball. She walked four, struck out two and allowed three earned runs.
   
The Hawks scored three runs on three hits in the second inning to take the lead for good. The Scarlet Raptors cut the deficit to 3-1 on an unearned run in the bottom of the frame, aided by an error and a RBI double by Hutchinson, but New Paltz scored four runs in both the third and fourth innings to put the game away. The fourth inning was highlighted by a grand slam from junior second baseman Madison Maggs.
 
For the game, Bianchini, Quagliana, Maggs and sophomore third baseman Mya DiRenzo collected two hits apiece. Maggs had five RBIs, with a second-inning RBI single preceding her grand slam.
 
Sophomore Lindsay Roman (1-0) earned the win, working four innings and allowing four hits and one unearned run. She walked one and struck out one.
 
McNee, Gray and Hutchinson each collected two hits in the doubleheader for the Scarlet Raptors.