Former Rutgers-Camden pitching star Sarah Byrnes joined the Scarlet Raptors’ coaching staff in 2023 and returns for her third season this spring.
Byrnes established herself as one of the top pitchers in the New Jersey Athletic Conference during her three seasons with the Scarlet Raptors, from 2019-21. A transfer who played her freshman season at NJAC rival William Paterson University in 2018, Byrnes went on to pitch in 51 games at Rutgers-Camden over the next three seasons, starting 48 and completing 36. She logged 298 innings as a Scarlet Raptor, posting a 2.02 ERA and four shutouts. Only 86 of the 133 runs charged against her were earned, which helps to explain her 18-26 career record.
Byrnes was named a NJAC First Team player during her senior season, when she posted a 2.08 ERA and pitched 137.2 innings out of the team’s total 147 innings. She appeared in all 23 Raptor games, starting 22 and completing 17. She struck out 106 and walked only 28, while posting two shutouts. She captured both NJAC Pitcher of the Week and Rutgers-Camden Raptor of the Week on April 5, 2021.
As a junior during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, she started all four Rutgers-Camden games and hurled two shutouts on the way to a 2-0 record and a 1.00 ERA. She struck out 25 in her 21 innings of work and earned NJAC Pitcher of the Week on March 16.
During her first season at Rutgers-Camden, in 2019, Byrnes led the Raptors’ staff in appearances (22), starts (22), complete games (17), innings (139.1), strikeouts (102), ERA (2.11) and wins (7). She was named the team’s Most Valuable Player and also captured Raptor of the Week honors on April 22.
Most than just an outstanding pitcher, Byrnes also was one of the Scarlet Raptors’ top offensive threats. She compiled a .299/.338/.339 slash line in her 157 Rutgers-Camden at bats, and also posted a .988 fielding percentage in 83 chances (15 putouts, 67 assists, one error).
Byrnes’ success at Rutgers-Camden followed a stellar rookie season at William Paterson in 2018, when she went 16-7 with one save, 13 complete games and a 2.86 ERA in 147 innings. She was the NJAC Rookie Pitcher of the Week and the ECAC Rookie Pitcher of the Week for the week ending April 1.
Byrnes ranks among the Scarlet Raptors’ all-time career pitching leaders in games started (48), complete games (36), innings pitched (298), at bats (1,165) and strikeouts (233). She is seventh in pitching appearances (51), ninth in opponent batting average (.255) and tied for ninth in wins (18). She also owns the fifth-best career ERA (2.02) for all pitchers with the minimum of 100 innings pitched.
A Childhood Studies major, Byrnes also excelled in the classroom, earning NJAC Academic Honorable Mention twice, capturing Dean’s List honors and being named to the Rutgers-Camden Athletic Director’s Honor Roll her final four semesters on campus.
During her scholastic days at Camden Catholic High School, Byrnes capped her career earning All-South Jersey First Team honors as a senior. She was a two-time All-Conference First Team player (junior and senior seasons) and a two-time All-Conference Second Team player (freshman and sophomore seasons).
