Rutgers-Camden Athletics

Second baseman Taylor Nichols had a stellar week for the Rutgers University-Camden softball team to earn Raptor of the Week honors over a very impressive field of candidates. A sophomore academically who has freshman eligibility in softball, Nichols hit .600 (6-for-10) with an .800 slugging percentage and a .636 on-base percentage, while compiling a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage (12 putouts and four assists in 16 chances). One of the two outstanding table-setters at the top of the Raptor lineup, along with sophomore right fielder Jalene Garcia, Nichols went a combined 5-for-5 with three runs, one RBI, a triple and a stolen base in a doubleheader sweep over Stockton University April 1. She also added six putouts and three assists. In a doubleheader split against No. 24-ranked Kean University April 4, she had the Raptors’ lone hit in a 1-0 loss in the opener before going 0-for-2 with a sacrifice in the team’s 3-2 win in the second game. The nightcap snapped her 11-game hitting streak (19-for-36, .528), the longest on the team this season. Nichols also added six putouts and one assist against the Cougars. For the season, Nichols is leading the team in hitting (.472), on-base percentage (.500) and stolen bases (11), while her 17 runs are one behind Garcia’s team-leading total.