Rutgers Softball Defeats Minnesota for First Time Ever
There is something really special brewing with the Rutgers softball team.
The Scarlet Knights opened up its Big Ten Schedule with a thunderous 9-2 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers, the first ever win against Minnesota for the program.
It was another big day for Gabrielle Callaway who had five RBI in the victory, giving the grad student 34 RBI and 34 hits on the season for the Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers trailed 2-0 in the early going, before Callaway drew a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the second inning to cut the deficit in half. Kayla Bock was then hit by a pitch to drive in the tying run.
Katie Wingert put Rutgers out in front with a two-run single through the left side of the infield, driving in Callaway and Payton Lincavage to hand Rutgers a 4-2 lead.
B2 | Laser shot by Katie Wingert drives in two for the Scarlet Knights#GoRU | #ChallengeAccepted pic.twitter.com/rS386ACFVi
— Rutgers Softball (@RUSoftball) March 25, 2022
In the third inning, Rutgers exploded! With the bases loaded, Lincavage took a pitch off her side to drive in a run to make it 5-2. Callaway later crushed a 2-2 pitch over the left field wall for a grand slam to make it 9-2.
Ain't it grand! Gabrielle Callaway mashes an opposite field grand slam to give the Scarlet Knights a seven run lead#GoRU | #ChallengeAccepted pic.twitter.com/aXydi6sRJ3
— Rutgers Softball (@RUSoftball) March 25, 2022
Ashley Hitchcock pitched around some control issues to get a complete game victory. She gave up two runs on six hits, while walking five and striking out three. Her biggest moment came in the third inning when she struck out Kayla Chavez with the bases loaded. Hitchcock is now 9-8 on the season.
M3 | Bases loaded strikeout, gotcha!#GoRU | #ChallengeAccepted pic.twitter.com/zOuhq5A5vD
— Rutgers Softball (@RUSoftball) March 25, 2022
Rutgers and Minnesota continue the series on Saturday and Sunday.