Rutgers Softball's Opening Day at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic: A Tale of Two Games
In the sun-drenched fields of Cathedral City, California, Rutgers softball kicked off their campaign at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with a mixed bag of results. The Scarlet Knights showcased both their potential and areas for growth, splitting their opening day with a commanding win and a hard-fought loss.
Game 1: Rutgers 6, Bethune-Cookman 0
The Scarlet Knights set the tone early against Bethune-Cookman, securing their second shutout of the season. Junior pitcher Brooke Shifflett was the star on the mound, delivering a complete-game victory. Shifflett’s performance was nothing short of dominant as she allowed just four hits, walked one, and struck out four, moving her to a 2-2 record for the season.
Offensively, sophomore Baileigh Burtis was the standout. Burtis blasted her first home run of the season, a three-run shot, and racked up a career-high four RBIs, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Her efforts were complemented by classmate Jayla Fuller, who also went 2-for-3, including a leadoff triple that set the stage for Rutgers’ early lead.
The Scarlet Knights capitalized on a strong third inning, where they notched four runs on five hits. Burtis’ homer over the left-center fence was a highlight, and Addie Osborne’s scoring run off a Sam Rohwer single extended the lead to 5-0. Freshman Eva Garofalo added the final run in the sixth, showcasing her speed and awareness on the base paths.
Game 2: Cal State Fullerton 8, Rutgers 5
The evening matchup against Cal State Fullerton was a different story. Despite a spirited effort, Rutgers fell short 8-5. The Scarlet Knights showed resilience, battling back from an early deficit to tie the game at 3-3 in the third inning, thanks to a double from Addie Osborne and a timely single by Kelsey Hoekstra.
However, the Titans proved formidable, regaining the lead in the fourth and adding insurance runs in the sixth. The Scarlet Knights mounted a rally in the seventh, sparked by a two-run homer from Osborne, her fourth of the season. Yet, despite their determination, the comeback fell just short.
Sophomore Addie Osborne shone brightly, going 2-for-4 with a double and that crucial home run. Contributions also came from Siera Hoekstra and Mia Mitchell, each delivering key hits in the contest.
On the mound, Kelsey Hoekstra started for Rutgers, pitching three innings and giving up four earned runs. Kassandra Gewecke and Marley Caldwell provided relief, each striking out two batters, but the Titans’ offense proved too much to handle.
Looking Ahead
With the first day behind them, Rutgers will look to build on their experiences as they face LMU and Utah on day two of the Classic. Fans can catch the action live on FloSoftball, with stats available on Statbroadcast. The Scarlet Knights have shown they can compete, and they'll aim to carry forward the lessons learned into the next matchups.