NEWARK, N.J. - The Hunter College softball team suffered a pair of heartbreaking defeats on Wednesday, falling to Rutgers-Newark in walk-off fashion in both ends of a doubleheader. The losses marked the third time in the Hawks' last four games that they surrendered a late lead, as the team falls to 2-16, while the Scarlet Raiders moved to 3-18.
Game 1: Hunter 5, Rutgers-Newark 6
In the first game of the day Rutgers-Newark struck first, scoring two runs in the bottom of the opening inning to take an early advantage. Hunter responded immediately as Elizabeth Thompson ignited the offense with a double into the right-center gap, bringing home Isabella Thumhart to cut the deficit to one. Later in the inning, Alejandra Aquino put pressure on the defense with a ball in play to third that resulted in an errant throw, allowing Thompson to score and tie the game. Aquino then showed aggressive base-running, stealing home on a wild pitch with two outs to give the Hawks a 3-2 lead.
The Purple and Gold added to its advantage in the third inning when Brianna Flores delivered a clutch bases-loaded single up the middle, scoring Thompson and Thumhart to extend the lead to 5-2.
Facing a three-run deficit in the sixth, Rutgers-Newark mounted a comeback, scoring three runs to even the game at 5-5. The Scarlet Raiders completed the rally in the bottom of the seventh, executing a walk-off RBI bunt to secure the win.
Freshman Abigail Bidinger (1-6) took the loss after pitching 6.1 innings, allowing six earned runs on 13 hits while striking out six. Thompson led the offense with a perfect 3-for-3 performance, adding an RBI and scoring twice.
Game 2: Hunter 4, Rutgers-Newark 5
Hunter regrouped quickly and jumped ahead in the second inning. Flores again delivered at the plate, singling to drive in Madison Drouet and Thompson for an early 2-0 lead.
Rutgers-Newark answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning and later capitalized on a pair of Hunter throwing errors in the fourth to take the lead. The Hawks responded in the fifth, as Grace Basil added a two-RBI single down the right-field line to put Hunter back in front.
With Hunter leading after into the seventh inning, Rutgers-Newark used a pair of hits to tie the game and force extra innings. After the Hawks were retired in order in the top of the eighth, the Scarlet Raiders wasted no time, delivering a lead-off single to score the placed runner on second base to complete the walk-off sweep.
Basil (0-6) went the distance in the circle, allowing three earned runs on nine hits while striking out one in the tough-luck loss. She also helped her own cause at the plate going 2-4 with an RBI.
The Hawks look to regroup at home when they host Lehman College at Randall's Island Field #12 on April 4th. First pitch is scheduled for 12 pm.
