CAMDEN, N.J. (March 27, 2025) – Sophomore pitcher Molly Skelly tossed a six-hitter in the nightcap, aided by the second home run of the day from freshman center fielder Ryleigh Lender, as the Rutgers University-Camden softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Gwynedd Mercy University here Thursday.
 
The Griffins rallied to win the opening game, 6-5, before the Scarlet Raptors took the nightcap, 5-2.
 
The split leaves Rutgers-Camden with a 2-13 record, while Gwynedd Mercy stands at 4-15.
 
The Scarlet Raptors return to action Saturday when they open their New Jersey Athletic Conference schedule. They will host New Jersey City University in a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
   
Gwynedd Mercy rallied from a 4-0 deficit over the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to pull out the win.
 
Rutgers-Camden scored a run in the first inning on a single by sophomore right fielder Kali Baker and an RBI double by sophomore third baseman Alana Gannon. In the second inning, Lender hit her first collegiate home run, a solo shot to left-center field.
 
Rutgers-Camden tacked on a pair of runs in the third inning on a two-run single by Lender.
 
Gwynedd Mercy used three walks, a wild pitch and the shortest spinning single to score three times in the fourth inning. With one run home on a wild pitch and runners at second and third, sophomore second baseman Avery Schwartz squibbed a slow roller halfway down the first base line which started off foul and stopped in fair territory. By the time the Scarlet Raptors reacted, both Griffin runners had scored to make it a 4-3 game.
 
The Griffins tied the game on an unearned run in the fifth inning and used two hits, an RBI ground out and a run-scoring wild pitch to plate their final runs in the sixth inning. Rutgers-Camden scored its final run on a two-out RBI single in the seventh inning by senior left fielder Emily Dubiago.
 
Gwynedd Mercy reliever Jocelyn Baumeister (4-5) picked up the win in relief, working four innings and allowing only one run. Raptor sophomore starter Sammie Friel (0-7) took the loss, allowing six runs, five earned, in 5.2 innings.
 
Senior designated player Luci Hutchinson went 3-for-3 with two singles and a double in the Scarlet Raptors' 15-hit attack. Lender went 2-for-4 with a home run, one run scored and three RBIs, while both Gannon and senior catcher Kendall Lafferty went 2-for-4 with one run scored. Gannon added one RBI.
   
Skelly (1-2), a first-year Scarlet Raptor after pitching at Goldey Beacom College last season, earned her first win at Rutgers-Camden. She hurled a six-hitter, allowing only two earned runs without walking or striking out any batters.
 
Gwynedd Mercy broke a scoreless deadlock with a run in the fourth inning on a pair of hits, including an RBI single by catcher Kaylee Colantano. Rutgers-Camden bounced back in the bottom of the frame on a single by sophomore designated player Devyn Jordan and a two-run home run to left field by Lender.
 
The Scarlet Raptors added two runs in the fifth, sparked by a single from Baker. She stole second and junior shortstop Gianna Baker walked. An RBI single by Gannon plated Baker and pushed Bauer to third, allowing her to score on a ground out by Jordan.
 
After Baumeister singled home a run in the top of the sixth inning, the Scarlet Raptors added their final run in the bottom of the frame on a walk, an errant pickoff attempt by the Griffins' catcher, and an RBI single by Dubiago.
 
For the doubleheader, Hutchinson went 4-for-6 and Lender was 4-for-7 with two home runs, two runs and five RBIs. Jordan went 3-for-4 with two runs and Gannon went 3-for-7 with one run and two RBIs. The Scarlet Raptors collected 24 hits in the doubleheader, with Bauer, Lafferty, Dubiago and Baker all adding two hits.