Pirates Drop Garden State Clash Against Rutgers, 14-4

Tuesday, March 24

2 p.m.

Seton Hall University

10-15

Rutgers

17-15

Rutgers

Seton Hall

Pirates Drop Garden State Clash Against Rutgers, 14-4

3/24/2026 8:37:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – In the opening game of a Garden State home-and-home clash, the Seton Hall softball team (10-15, 2-7) opened its week with a loss to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (17-15), 14-4 in six innings, at Mike Sheppard Sr. Field.

How It Happened
In the opening game of a five-game week, things began inauspiciously for The Hall. In the span of nine pitches, Rutgers' first two hitters sent two home runs over the left field wall to put the Pirates quickly in a 2-0 hole. Before the inning's end, the Scarlet Knights added one more run to make it a 3-0 game.

At the plate, the Pirates struggled to find a response in the early frames. Despite making plenty of contact, only a trio of batters managed to reach base across the opening three frames while striking out twice. All the while, Rutgers continued to expand the deficit, turning it into a 6-0 game by the middle of the fourth inning.

Now facing the Scarlet Knights' starter a second time, the Pirates' offense found paydirt in the fourth inning. Naya Martinez worked a walk to open the inning, and Lea Kosinski singled, before freshman Loreale Blake stepped into the box looking to break The Hall's scoreless run. After seeing two balls, Blake lasered the next pitch to the left side of the infield. As the opposing third baseman raced toward the ball, it ricocheted off their glove and the ball went flying into the outfield. As a result, Blake reached safely and Martinez scored to make it a 6-1 game.

Now on the board and with no outs recorded, the pressure shifted towards the opposition to stop The Hall's offensive momentum. Luckily for Seton Hall, four pitches later, Erin Howard connected on a 1-2 pitch and sent it far over the wall in left field to pull the Pirates within two, 6-4. Unfortunately, after a pitching change in the aftermath of the home run, the Pirates' momentum stalled and they exited the fourth frame without scoring another run.

While both sides managed to make no headway in the fifth inning, Rutgers found their way at the plate once again in the sixth inning. An eight-run inning, including a grand slam, put The Hall down 10 runs and left them with only three to get the deficit below eight, or the game would end. Despite two singles, the Pirates could not muster enough offense and fell 14-4 in six innings.

News & Notes

With the loss, the Pirates move to 10-15 on the season and 2-7 in BIG EAST play.
Benitez has now recorded a hit in 21 of 25 games this season.
- She also recorded her tea-leading 20^th run scored.
Howard recorded her first home run of the season.
- The two-hit, three RBI game helped her 15^th hit and 10^th RBI of the season
Perez recorded her 34^rd career multi-hit game.

What's Next
The Pirates will play host to the Saint Joseph's Hawks on Wednesday, March 24, at Mike Sheppard Sr. Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.