JERSEY CITY, N.J. (March 30, 2024) – Freshman Sammie Friel tossed a two-hitter in the second game as the Rutgers University-Camden softball team opened its New Jersey Athletic Conference season by splitting a doubleheader at New Jersey City University.
 
The Gothic Knights won the opener, 9-1, on a five-inning no-hitter before the Raptors captured a 2-1 win in the nightcap.
 
Rutgers-Camden is 10-10 overall and 1-1 in the NJAC, while New Jersey City stands at 6-7 and 1-1.
 
The Scarlet Raptors return to NJAC play on Tuesday when they host Ramapo College at 3 p.m.
   
NJCU senior Sidnie Dabbadie (4-2) tossed a no-hitter in a game stopped after five innings by the eight-run mercy rule. She allowed one walk, one hit batsman and one earned run, while striking out five. Her no-hitter was the 14th against Rutgers-Camden in program history and the first since Smith College's Abigail Fletcher tossed a five-inning no-hitter in a 15-0 win on March 12, 2023.
 
The Scarlet Raptors took a quick lead in the top of the first inning after senior shortstop Meg Gray opened the game getting hit by a pitch, was sacrificed to second and moved to third on a foul out. After junior third baseman Luci Hutchinson walked, Gray scored when Hutchinson was thrown out stealing.
 
NJCU tied the game with an unearned run in the bottom of the frame and then broke the game open with a six-run second inning. The Gothic Knights' big frame included six hits and three errors, with three of the runs unearned.
 
Junior second baseman Jordan Mendolla paced an 11-hit NJCU attack, going 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI.
 
Raptor junior Lindsey Rodzon (2-6) took the loss, working one inning and allowing seven hits, seven runs (three earned) and no walks, while striking out one.
   
Friel (4-3) allowed only a pair of singles, one earned run and no walks, while striking out six. Both hits came in the second inning, including an RBI single by junior center fielder Cheyenn Fulton.
 
Rutgers-Camden tied the game in the fourth inning when senior designated player Kamryn Kennedy led off with a single and was sacrificed to second by Gray. Freshman Kali Baker was inserted as a pinch-runner and she scored when Hutchinson reached on a two-out throwing error by the NJCU shortstop.
 
In the fifth inning, Raptor senior center fielder Alexa McNee singled, advanced to third on a double by sophomore right fielder Ava Maloof and scored on a throwing error.
 
Senior Sam Miller (1-4) was the tough-luck losing pitcher, allowing only seven hits, one walk and two unearned runs. Raptor junior catcher Kendall Lafferty went 2-for-3, including a double.