A transfer from Division II Georgian Court University, Abby Merryman had a fine all-around season for the Scarlet Raptors in her first year at Rutgers-Camden in 2016. Not only was she a valuable pitcher as the Raptors’ No. 2 hurler, but she also was one of the team’s top offensive threats, posting a .300 batting average.
Merryman returns for her senior collegiate season in 2017.
Softball 2016: Appeared in 39 of the Raptors’ 40 games, starting 36…Made 12 starts and 18 appearances as a pitcher and also started at first base and designated player…Offensively, finished with a .300 batting average, 10 runs, 12 RBIs, two doubles and a team-leading two triples…Tied for second on the team defensively with 120 putouts, while adding 29 assists and only one error for a .993 fielding percentage…On the mound, posted a 4-5 record and a 3.57 ERA in 78.1 innings…Had seven complete games and two shutouts …Walked 22, struck out 59 and allowed 105 hits…Tied for fourth on the team with six multiple-hit games…Had an eight-game hitting streak from March 15 (Game Two) through the doubleheader on March 24 for the second-longest hitting streak on the team in 2016…Notched her first win of the season with a five-inning five-hitter, striking out four and walking none, in a 20-1 victory over Spalding (March 16)…Posted back-to-back shutouts in five-inning wins over Bay Path University (March 17, Game One, 17-0) and Penn State-Abington (March 24, Game Two, 12-0)…Had a one-hitter with seven strikeouts and no walks against Bay Path, allowing only a second-inning hit batsman and a leadoff single in the third inning…Drilled a three-run, pinch-hit triple in the fourth inning of a 17-0 win over Southern Vermont (March 15), starting her hitting streak…Went 3-for-3 with two runs and one RBI in the win over Bay Path (March 17)…Also had a 3-for-3 game with one run against Ursinus (April 24, Game Two)… Collected two-hit games against Albright (March 17) Penn State-Abington (March 24, Game One), Stockton University (April 6, Game Two) and Stockton University (May 5 in the NJAC playoffs)…Collected 10 putouts in a game on four occasions…Named to the Rutgers-Camden Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for the Spring 2016 semester.
Pre-Rutgers: Played two seasons at Georgian Court…Appeared in 30 games, making 19 starts, as a freshman in 2014…Had 10 complete games, two shutouts and two saves in 122.1 innings…Went 12-8 with a 3.03 ERA, including a 2.25 ERA in conference action…Walked 25 and struck out 37…Tied for the conference lead in wins and saves…Compiled a 1.000 fielding percentage with two putouts and 35 assists in 37 chances…Notched three wins in the conference tournament and led Georgian Court to its first NCAA at large bid since 2010, where it came up one game short of reaching the Super Regionals…As a sophomore in 2015, pitched in 24 games, starting 18…Had 16 complete games and one save in 124 innings…Posted an 8-14 record and a 4.97 ERA…Had 37 walks and 66 strikeouts…Had a .926 fielding percentage in 27 chances (two putouts, 23 assists, two errors)…Overall, posted a 20-22 record and a 4.01 ERA in 37 games (26 starts) and 246.1 innings…Walked 62 and struck out 103…Added three saves.
High School: Earned four softball letters at Gloucester Catholic High School for Coach Tom Sullivan…Won over 60 games and led her team to two state championships…Earned First Team All-Conference honors all four years (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)...All-South Jersey Non-Public First Team…All-State Non-Public Second Team…Rancocas Valley MVP winner, 2012…School MVP 2012-13.
Personal: Born April 20, 1995…Abigail “Abby” Merryman…Enjoys going to the beach, reading, golfing and hanging out with friends…Named to Rutgers-Camden’s inaugural Athletic Director’s Honor Roll (Fall 2015)…Marketing major at Rutgers-Camden…Plans to get a marketing job with a large corporation…Abby is the daughter of Cathy and Bill Merryman of Sewell.
