CAMDEN, N.J. (April 26, 2022) – The Rutgers University-Camden softball team rode the strong relief pitching of freshman Lindsey Rodzon to post a 7-5 victory over Stockton University in the nightcap of a doubleheader here Tuesday, earning a split of the New Jersey Athletic Conference twinbill.
 
Stockton won the opener, 9-2.
 
The split leaves the Scarlet Raptors at 7-16 overall and 4-10 in the NJAC, snapping a five-game losing streak. Stockton stands at 21-15 and 8-8 after its six-game winning streak was snapped.
 
The Scarlet Raptors play two more NJAC doubleheaders this week to close out the regular season. On Thursday, the Raptors will play a makeup twinbill at Rutgers-Newark, beginning at 3 p.m. On Saturday, in a Senior Day doubleheader, Rutgers-Camden will host Kean University, beginning at 2 p.m.
   
In a game a lot closer than the final score, Stockton broke open a 4-2 contest with five runs in the top of the seventh inning on six hits and two errors.
 
The Ospreys took a quick lead in the game, scoring three runs in the opening inning, which included a two-run home run by freshman third baseman Charli Czaczkowski. They added another run in the second inning on an RBI single by sophomore designated player Stevie Unger.
 
Stockton freshman pitcher Nicole Smith (3-2) kept the Scarlet Raptors off the scoreboard until the fifth inning, when sophomore left fielder Alexa McNee sparked the frame with a leadoff single. Junior first baseman Jayden Hunter reached on a fielder's choice, erasing McNee, and advanced to second on a wild pitch. She was sacrificed to third by sophomore catcher Olivia Bull and scored on a single by freshman right fielder Emily Dubiago.
 
The Raptors added another run in the sixth after senior designated player Alexis Schauer was hit by a pitch. She was sacrificed to second by freshman third baseman Luci Hutchinson. Sophomore Mya Bocchicchio was inserted as a pinch runner and advanced to third on a wild pitch. McNee singled through the right side to plate Bocchicchio.
 
Junior center fielder Vanessa Tancini and sophomore second baseman Megan Dignam had three hits apiece to lead Stockton's 15-hit attack. McNee had two of the Scarlet Raptors' five hits.
   
The Scarlet Raptors scored two runs in the first inning on a two-run single by senior shortstop Meg Gray, but the Ospreys tied the game in the top of the second inning.
 
Rutgers-Camden bounced right back with three runs in the bottom of the second to take the lead for good. Hunter opened the frame with a walk and Bull was hit by a pitch. Dubiago walked to load the bases and one out later, junior second baseman Cate Petrucelli was hit by a pitch, forcing home a run. Schauer collected an RBI with a ground out and Hutchinson reached base on a passed ball after striking out, plating Dubiago.
 
Stockton answered with a pair of runs in the top of the third on four hits and put their leadoff runner on base with a walk to open the fourth inning. Rodzon relieved junior starter Rachel White and worked out of a jam after the Ospreys loaded the bases with a single and a walk.
 
Rodzon (4-9) ended up pitching four innings, allowing six hits, one walk and one earned run. She struck out two. Her one run came in the sixth inning, when Dignam had an RBI single to cut the Raptors' lead to 6-5. The Raptors countered with a run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by Schauer.
 
Stockton finished with 13 hits in the game, with Czaczkowski going 4-for-4. Rutgers-Camden only collected four hits, but took advantage of five walks and five hit batsmen. Senior center fielder Kimmy Musarra went 2-for-3 with two runs for the Raptors. Gray and Schauer both went 1-for-2 with two RBIs.