JERSEY CITY, N.J. (April 2, 2022) – With the harsh spring weather and postponements, the Rutgers University-Camden softball team hadn't played any games since its last day of spring break in Florida on March 18.
 
That dry spell ended here Saturday when the Scarlet Raptors opened their New Jersey Athletic Conference schedule by splitting a doubleheader against New Jersey City University.
 
The Gothic Knights roared back from a five-run deficit to win the opener, 6-5. The Scarlet Raptors took a 10-0 win in six innings in the nightcap.
 
The split left Rutgers-Camden with a 4-7 record overall, while NJCU stands at 9-10. Both teams are 1-1 in NJAC play.
 
The Scarlet Raptors return to action Tuesday when they host nationally-ranked Rowan University in a 3 p.m. NJAC doubleheader.
   
Leading, 5-0, heading to the bottom of the sixth inning, the Scarlet Raptors watched NJCU explode for five hits and five runs to tie the game. The key hits were a two-run double by eventual winning pitcher Sam Miller and a two-run single by second baseman Hailey Mojica.
 
The Gothic Knights completed their comeback with an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
 
Rutgers-Camden had scored one unearned run in the first inning and then tacked on a pair of runs in both the second and sixth innings to build its 5-0 lead.
 
Junior center fielder Kimmy Musarra finished the game going 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI for Rutgers-Camden.
 
Miller (4-4) earned the win with a seven-hitter, allowing five runs (three earned) and three walks. She struck out one.
   
The Scarlet Raptors stormed back in the second game, pounding out nine hits and taking advantage of four walks, one hit batsman and four NJCU errors. Only five of the 10 runs off losing pitcher Sidnie Dabbadie (4-2) were earned.
 
The Raptors scored a single run in the first inning and then tacked on two-run frames in each of the next three innings to take a 7-0 lead. Senior shortstop Meg Gray ripped an RBI double in the second, junior second baseman Cate Petrucelli had an RBI bunt single in the third and a single by Musarra and two errors plated two more runs in the fourth.
 
The Raptors ended the game early with the eight-run rule when they scored three times in the top of the sixth inning and blanked NJCU in the bottom of the frame. That three-run frame was capped by a two-run pinch-hit single from senior Alexis Schauer.
 
Sophomore pitcher Natalie Ampole tossed her first collegiate shutout, allowing only four hits and one walk. Ampole struck out five to improve to 2-1.
 
Musarra had another big game, going 3-for-4 with four runs from the leadoff spot.