Natalie Powell heads into the 2008 season as the Raptors’ staff ace after earning All-New Jersey Athletic Conference Honorable Mention during her sophomore campaign. Powell compiled a 12-3 record and a 2.07 ERA in 98 innings in 2007, when she hurled five shutouts and one no-hitter.

        Powell finished among the NJAC pitching leaders in saves (1, tied for second), wins (sixth), appearances (22, tied for sixth), ERA (10th) and opponent batting average (.228, 11th). She also had a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage, with 52 assists and two putouts, to tie for first in the NJAC.

        Powell didn’t waste any time making her mark in 2007. She tossed a five-inning no-hitter in the opening game of a doubleheader against Norwich University March 13. She allowed only one walk in a 12-0 shutout, while striking out two. That win snapped the Lady Raptors’ four-game losing streak and started Rutgers-Camden on an 11-game winning streak, providing the momentum that carried the team to its fourth consecutive berth in the NCAA tournament.

        Powell hurled a two-hit shutout against Staten Island April 6 (Game 2) in an 8-0 victory, and then crafted a three-hit shutout in the nightcap of a doubleheader sweep over The College of New Jersey April 10. She won that game, 6-0.

        Powell had a career-high nine strikeouts in a 4-0 shutout of Kean University April 14 (Game 2), when she hurled a three-hitter.

        Perhaps her finest stretch of pitching came during three NJAC games April 24 and 28. She hurled 5-1/3 innings of shutout relief ball as the Raptors rallied to beat Rowan University, 6-5, in the opener of an April 24 doubleheader. Four days later, she added wins in both ends of a doubleheader against Rutgers-Newark, allowing only two earned runs in 12 innings. She also collected nine assists in the second game, one shy of the program’s single-game record. For the week, Powell went 3-0 with a 0.81 ERA in 17-1/3 innings. She walked three and struck out seven. That performance helped her earn the school’s Co-Raptor of the Week honors on April 30, sharing the award with track star Mike Fox.

        Powell appeared in seven games during her freshman season, making three starts and compiling a .333 batting average (2-for-6) with four runs, one home run and three RBIs. She also posted a 2-0 record on the mound in seven innings, allowing only two hits and one unearned run for a perfect 0.00 ERA. She walked three and struck out six.

        Powell earned her first collegiate win with a three-inning, one-hit shutout stint in a 7-3 victory over Guilford College (March 4). She walked three and struck out three. That performance allowed her to capture the NJAC Rookie Pitcher of the Week award for March 6, the first week of conference honors.

        At the plate, Powell’s first collegiate hit was a three-run home run in the second inning of an 18-0 victory over Keystone College (March 25, Game Two). She went 1-for-2 with one run and three RBIs in that game. In her next game, an 11-0 win over John Jay (March 31, Game Two), Powell went 1-for-3 with a single and one run scored. She also collected three assists at second base.  

        In addition to her softball talents, Powell was a member of the 2006 Rutgers-Camden volleyball team, leading the Lady Raptors to the best record in the history of their young program (6-17). She finished ninth in the NJAC in aces per game (0.62) while appearing in 76 games, collecting 100 kills (third on the team), 67 assists (fourth), 47 aces (third) and 211 digs (third). She also added 14 total blocks (nine solo, five assisted), fifth on the team.

        Powell earned four softball letters and three apiece in volleyball and basketball at Williamstown High School. On the softball diamond, she showed her versatility and talent as a two-time Tri-County Conference Royal Division Honorable Mention infielder who also was named to the Courier-Post’s All-Group 3 Second Team as a pitcher during both her junior and senior seasons.

        As a volleyball player, Powell was named to the Courier-Post’s All-South Jersey First Team as a senior in 2004. That capped a season in which she also earned First Team Olympic Conference Patriot Division honors and was named as a Player of the Week.

        A National Honor Society member who graduated with honors, she placed 11th out of 333 students in her senior class at Williamstown High School.

        A Nursing and Psychology major at Rutgers-Camden, Natalie is the daughter of Fred and Marilyn Powell of Williamstown.