Pirates Fend Off Scarlet Knights, 15-8

Published: Wednesday, April 16, 2025

by Darren Worrell

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Seton Hall softball (27-18, 10-8) wrapped up their non-conference slate with a thrilling 15-8 victory over Rutgers (17-28, 1-12), completing the season sweep. The Pirates didn’t have the easiest start, falling behind by five early, but they battled back in a big way to claim the win. 

It was a tough first few innings. Seton Hall’s offense was quiet, and the defense wasn’t exactly up to par. Rutgers took full advantage, jumping out to a 4-0 lead by the end of the first. The Pirates were definitely on their heels, trying to find their rhythm and turn the game around. 

But as the game wore on, Seton Hall started to chip away. By the fifth inning, they’d managed to close the gap to 6-3, thanks to some key errors from Rutgers. The Pirates weren’t out of it yet, but there was still plenty of work to do. 

Then came the game-changing sixth inning. Katey Brennan led off with a clean single up the middle, and Hobbes kept the momentum going with a hit to left. After a Rutgers error gave Carr a free pass on base, the Pirates were now back in business. Alexander doubled to right-center, and Gilbert came through with a single to bring in another run. Four runs later, Seton Hall was right back in the game and the score was now tied at 7-7. 

Then, Erin Howard stepped up with the bases loaded and hit a grand slam over the left-field fence. That was the moment the Pirates took control, pushing ahead 11-7. Rutgers tried to respond with a sac fly to make it 11-8, but that was the last time they scored. 

The Pirates weren’t finished yet. They added four more runs in the final inning, with Taylor Hill coming through again. After hitting a homer against Drexel, she launched another grand slam to push the lead to 15-8. Hill finished the day with six RBIs, just one more than the previous, a truly incredible performance for the senior. 

That was all she wrote, as Seton Hall finished with a 15-8 win. It wasn’t the smoothest game, but the heart they showed definitely did not go unnoticed. Coming back from five down, hitting two grand slams in one game, and scoring eight runs in an inning? This is not easy, but they sure made it look easy. That’s the kind of fight you love to see as a fan and as a team. 

Next up, Seton Hall gets a short break before returning to conference play. They’ll host Butler for a three-game series, with the first game set for April 26 at 12 p.m. at Essex County Mike Sheppard Sr. Field. 

Darren Worrell can be reached at darren.worrell@student.shu.edu. 

 

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