NEWARK, N.J. (April 27, 2024) – The Rutgers University-Camden softball team hadn't earned a trip to the New Jersey Athletic Conference playoffs in years, but behind the stellar pitching of freshman Sammie Friel and junior Lindsey Rodzon, the Scarlet Raptors have returned to the post-season conference tournament.
 
Rutgers-Camden swept Rutgers-Newark here Saturday on the last day of the regular season, 2-1 and 8-1 to qualify for the six-team NJAC playoffs. Other than 2021, when every school in the NJAC was allowed to play in the post-Covid tournament, the Scarlet Raptors hadn't qualified for a post-season conference berth since 2016.

NJAC Playoff Bracket
 
The victories improved the Scarlet Raptors to 17-23 overall and 7-11 in the NJAC. They will be the sixth seed in the six-team double-elimination NJAC playoffs and will play a first-round game at third-seeded Kean University Tuesday at 4 p.m.
 
Rutgers-Newark ended its season at 6-30 overall and 3-15 in NJAC play.
   
The Scarlet Raptors scored twice in the top of the sixth inning to break a scoreless tie and ride the strong pitching of Friel to the victory. Friel (9-8) hurled a four-hitter, allowing only one walk and one unearned run, while striking out six.
 
Freshman left fielder Alana Gannon opened the sixth inning with a single and moved to second on a ground out. She advanced to third on a single by junior right fielder Emily Dubiago, who proceeded to steal second base. Junior third baseman Luci Hutchinson, playing in her 100th career game at Rutgers-Camden, reached on an infield error and went to second, allowing Gannon to score before Dubiago was thrown out at the plate. Senior designated player Kamryn Kennedy plated Hutchinson with a single.
 
Two hits, an error and a ground out plated Newark's unearned run in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Friel ended the inning with a strikeout. She retired the Scarlet Raiders in the seventh inning, allowing only a two-out single.
 
Kennedy went 2-for-3 with one RBI to lead the Raptors' five-hit attack.
   
The Scarlet Raptors broke a 1-1 tie on an unearned run in the fourth inning after Kennedy reached second base on an infield throwing error. Rodzon was inserted as a pinch runner and came around to score on a pair of sacrifice bunts, one by sophomore second baseman Gianna Bauer and one by sophomore first baseman Bella Lynch, which plated the run.
 
The Scarlet Raptors added three runs on three hits and two errors in the fifth inning, sparked by a ground rule double from Gannon. Senior center fielder Alexa McNee and Kennedy added singles in the inning, with Kennedy driving home the final run of the frame.
 
Gannon doubled home a run in the sixth inning and a two-run seventh included an RBI double from Lynch.
 
Rodzon (3-13), meanwhile, shut down the Scarlet Raiders by scattering nine hits and one walk. She struck out one and allowed only an unearned run in the second inning.
 
Gannon powered a 10-hit attack by going 4-for-5 with two runs and one RBI from the leadoff spot. Lynch was 1-for-3 with one run and two RBIs.