ROCK HILL, SC -- The Rutgers softball team (7-5) defeated Morgan State (1-6), 8-1, in the second game of the Winthrop/Ringor Invitational in Rock Hill, SC. In the first game of the day, the Scarlet Knights defeated Winthrop 4-1.

Christina Gillman (Valencia, CA) pitched all seven innings, maintaining a shutout until Morgan State scored its only run (unearned) in the sixth inning. There were two hits and only one walk.

Gillman had a crucial performance in the fourth inning, when after striking out the first batter and walking the second, the third batter hit a single to put runners on first and third with only one out. Gillman struck out the last two batters, taking responsibility for all three outs.

Rutgers started the offense off quickly, picking up a run in the first inning when Jen Jacoby (Agoura Hills, CA) scored on Nikki Childress’ (Roanoke, VA) double to left field. The Scarlet Knights picked up two more runs in the fourth inning when Crystal Vargas (Jersey City, NJ) scored on a single from Melissa Bradford (Pennsville, NJ). Marisa Orsogna (Edison, NJ) crossed the plate to make it 3-0 on a fielding error by the third baseman.

Meaghan Asselta (Ramsey, NJ) led the offense with a triple, her first of the season and third career, to right center to open the fifth inning. She scored on a single to first by Jenny Card (Miami, FL). Card later had a triple to send home Childress in the sixth inning, which brought four runs to wrap up the game.

The Scarlet Knights will open the second day of Tournament play against Tulsa at 2 p.m. and will then face Tennessee State at 8 p.m. Sunday’s games will be announced based on bracket play. BOX SCORE