WINTER HAVEN, Florida (March 16, 2023) – The Rutgers University-Camden softball team had to work overtime for its second win of the season, but the result was worth the wait in the Scarlet Raptors' second game of the day at the PFX Spring Games Thursday.
 
After losing a 6-1 decision against Kalamazoo College, the Scarlet Raptors went nine innings before outlasting Nichols College, 7-5. Thursday's split left Rutgers-Camden with a 2-8 record and snapped a four-game losing streak.
 
The Scarlet Raptors conclude their trip to the PFX Spring Games on Friday with two games in Auburndale., Florida. They will face Ohio Northern University (Ada, Ohio) at 9 a.m. and play Hamilton College (Clinton, New York) at 11:30 a.m.
   
In their first game of the day, the Scarlet Raptors were limited to four hits – three of them in the sixth inning – by sophomore pitcher Jordan Cook. Cook evened her record at 1-1, allowing one earned run and one walk, while striking out 10.
 
Sophomore Lindsey Rodzon (1-5) took the loss for the Scarlet Raptors, allowing six runs – only three earned – in 5.1 innings. She surrendered six hits and five walks, while fanning three. Senior Rachel White pitched the final 1.2 innings of shutout ball, allowing one hit and one walk, while striking out three.
 
The Hornets (Kalamazoo, Michigan) scored a run in the second inning after a pair of walks and an infield single loaded the bases. Freshman designated player Cecilia Schihl picked up an RBI with a grounder to second base.
 
Kalamazoo (2-1) broke open the game with four runs in the fifth inning, three of them unearned, following a leadoff home run by senior first baseman Lucy Hart. It was her first of two solo home runs in consecutive innings.
 
Rutgers-Camden's lone hit until the sixth inning came on a third-inning single by junior center fielder Alexa McNee. In the sixth, the Raptors managed singles by senior right fielder Jayden Hunter, sophomore third baseman Luci Hutchinson and senior catcher Zoe Rodriguez. The hit by Rodriguez plated senior second baseman Cate Petrucelli, who reached on a fielder's choice.
   
After both teams scored a run in the eighth inning, aided by the extra-inning rule with a runner placed at second base, Rutgers-Camden struck for two runs in the top of the ninth to outlast Nichols (2-6). Junior shortstop Danielle Quinones started the frame at second base and was sacrificed to third by sophomore Emily Dubiago, who started the game in left field and later moved to center field. Hunter ripped an RBI double to break a 5-5 tie and was sacrificed to third by Petrucelli. She scored on a two-out wild pitch.
 
Rodzon (2-5) worked the final seven innings in relief of White, allowing five hits and two runs (one earned) to earn the win. She walked three and struck out six.
 
Nichols College Bisons (Dudley, MA) built a 3-0 lead through three innings, but Rutgers-Camden exploded for four runs in the fourth inning on five hits, starting with a leadoff single by freshman first baseman Bella Lynch. One out later, Rodriguez hit a ground rule double, setting the stage for a two-run single by McNee. After freshman designated player Ava Maloof singled for her first collegiate hit, Quinones moved up the runners with a sacrifice. Dubiago's two-run single capped the rally.
 
Nichols tied the game with a run in the bottom of the fourth before three scoreless frames led to extra innings. In the eighth, Rodriguez singled a run home for the Scarlet Raptors, but the Bisons tied the game with an RBI single from freshman second baseman Emily Iannuccilli.
 
Rutgers-Camden finally wrapped up its win in the ninth inning, the longest game for the Scarlet Raptors all season long. They finished with seven runs and 10 hits, both season highs.
 
Hunter, Rodriguez and Dubiago all had two hits for the Scarlet Raptors, while McNee and Dubiago had two RBIs apiece. Hunter and Rodriguez both had one RBI.
 
Iannuccilli led Nichols' offense, going 3-for-4 with one run and two RBIs.