The Rutgers-Camden softball team, which entered the national finals ranked #3 in the country, captured the first NCAA title in school history May 22 with a 3-2 victory over two-time defending national champion St. Thomas.

Raptors No. 1
Rutgers-Camden was ranked No. 1 nationally in the final 2006 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Top 25 poll, which was released May 22. See:
Div. III poll

Rutgers-Camden softball captures
Div. III Coaching Staff of the Year

CAMDEN -The Rutgers University-Camden softball program is still reaping the benefits of winning the Division III national championship.

One month after winning the national title, Rutgers-Camden Head Coach Carl Taylor and assistants Celeste Chinappi, Megan Johnston and Brian Wolverton have received another huge honor from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. The Scarlet Raptors' staff has been named as the Speedline/NFCA Division III National Coaching Staff of the Year, and will be honored at the 2006 NFCA National Convention in Tucson, Arizona, in December.

In addition to winning the national honor, the Rutgers-Camden staff also was honored as the East Region Coaching Staff of the Year.

Rutgers-Camden coaches (L-R) Celeste Chinappi, Carl Taylor and Megan Johnston hold the national championship trophy after the Raptors won the Division III title May 22 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Taylor and his staff led Rutgers-Camden to a perfect 18-0 record in the New Jersey Athletic Conference regular season, and the Lady Raptors went 4-1 in the NJAC playoffs to capture their second conference title in three years. That one loss was the only defeat the Raptors suffered in their final 38 games. That string included a school-record 29-game winning streak (March 25-May 6) which started, ironically, after a one-run loss to St. Thomas out in California.

The Raptors won their final eight games of the season, including a perfect 7-0 record in the NCAA tournament. They were 3-0 to win the East Regional before sweeping the Div. III World Series, 4-0.

In his 11th season at Rutgers-Camden, Taylor won his 200th game on March 25 during an 11-0 win against New Jersey City University. Senior All-American Michelle Schlichtig hurled a perfect game in that contest. The Raptors' school-record 47-5 campaign raised Taylor's career record to 218-115-2 at Rutgers-Camden, including an amazing 118-24-1 over the last three seasons.

Johnston, who completed her second season as a Rutgers-Camden assistant coach, is a former standout pitcher at Bishop Eustace Prep and Cabrini College.

Chinappi and Wolverton joined the Rutgers-Camden staff this season. Chinappi, who played her scholastic softball at Gloucester Catholic, completed her sensational four-year Rutgers-Camden career in 2005. The team's starting shortstop all four years, she set numerous program records, including career marks for games played (170), hits (166), assists (243, which was broken this season by Schlichtig) and double plays (12).

Wolverton, a part-time assistant, also serves as the head softball coach at Northern Burlington High School.

Brian Wolverton

Champion Raptors rank high
in final NCAA Division III stats

CAMDEN - Following a season in which it won the first national championship in school history, the Rutgers University-Camden softball team was among the Division III leaders in several categories when the NCAA released its final statistics June 7.

Rutgers-Camden finished 14th in Division III in team earned run average (1.34), 18th in fielding percentage (.966) and 42nd in runs scored per game (6.29). Most importantly, the Lady Raptors were second nationally in winning percentage at .904 after posting a 47-5 record on their way to the NCAA Division III championship. The Raptors won that title May 22 with a 3-2 victory over two-time defending champion St. Thomas.

In the individual rankings, the Lady Raptors also were well-represented, led by senior All-American Michelle Schlichtig (Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights). Schlichtig placed second nationally in pitching victories after posting an outstanding 32-3 season. She also was tied for sixth in saves (four) and was 18th in both ERA (1.03) and strikeouts per seven innings (9.5). Schlichtig fanned 304 batters this season, second only to the school mark of 318 strikeouts she recorded in 2005.

The other Raptor in the individual national rankings was junior right fielder Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional), who placed 50th in walks per game (0.56). Millett drew 28 walks this year, two shy of the single-season program record set by Lisa Wolfe in 1988.

Raptors topple St. Thomas
to capture national championship

RALEIGH, NC - During Carl Taylor's second year as the Rutgers University-Camden softball coach in 1997, his team won one game.

Nine seasons later, Taylor's team has captured the first NCAA national championship in school history.

Rutgers-Camden completed its run to the 2006 NCAA Division III title by edging the two-time defending national champion University of St. Thomas (Minn.), 3-2, here Monday.

Rutgers-Camden softball coach Carl Taylor, second from right, enjoys the Raptors' national championship along with Athletic Director Jeff Dean.

Rutgers-Camden, which entered the championships ranked No. 3 in the country, won 37 of its final 38 games en route to its national title.

Rutgers-Camden broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the seventh inning when sophomore second baseman Jayme Feriod (Glassboro, NJ/Glassboro) reached base on a one-out infield single. Junior shortstop Alaina Giles (Willingboro, NJ/Holy Cross) followed with an infield grounder, but the throw to force Feriod at second was wild, allowing her to score all the way from first base as the ball rolled into the outfield. That was the deciding run in a duel between Scarlet Raptor senior All-American Michelle Schlichtig (Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights) and St. Thomas ace Maria Bye.

Jayme Feriod scores the eventual winning run as Rutgers-Camden captures the national championship May 22

St. Thomas scored a first-inning run on a one-out solo home run from catcher Nikki Conway. The Raptors tied the game in the top of the fourth on a pair of errors and a two-out RBI double to left field by junior catcher Mo Baney (Deptford, NJ/Deptford), but the Tommies bounced right back. In the bottom of the frame, Bye drew a walk and stole second. Pinch-runner Anne Carpentier replaced Bye and was sacrificed to third. She scored on a single to left field by designated player Janet Nagle.

St. Thomas' Marie Bye is safe on a fourth-inning stolen base.

After the Raptors took the lead in the top of the seventh, the Tommies' Colleen Owen stroked a one-out single in the bottom of the inning. Owen stole second, but Schlichtig wriggled out of her final jam with a pair of strikeouts to nail down the national championship.

Bye allowed only three hits and three runs (one earned) on the day. She walked two and struck out eight.

Rutgers-Camden ace Michelle Schlichtig closed her career as a two-time First Team All-American on a national championship team.

Baney collected eight putouts on the day to raise her season total to 398, breaking her own single-season record of 391 set last year.

Raptors stun St. Thomas
to reach national title game

RALEIGH, NC - The University of St. Thomas entered Sunday's NCAA Division III Softball Championship winners' bracket final with a 29-game post-season winning streak, two consecutive national titles and the No. 1 ranking in the country.

Rutgers-Camden, attempting to capture its first national title, snapped that streak here May 21 by outlasting the Tommies, 5-4, in the winners' bracket final at the national tournament. Rutgers-Camden moves into the championship round, where it will play for the national title Monday at 2:30 p.m. against the survivor of the 12 p.m. losers' bracket final between St. Thomas and No. 2 Muskingum.

The Scarlet Raptors, who entered the national championships ranked No. 3 in the country, improved to 46-5 with their 36th win in their last 37 games. Ironically, that streak started after a 4-3 regular-season loss against St. Thomas on March 18 in California.

The Tommies took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when catcher Nikki Conway singled, stole second, advanced on an error and scored on a fielder's choice by pitcher Maria Bye.

Rutgers-Camden bounced back in the bottom of the third to take a 2-1 lead. Junior shortstop Alaina Giles (Willingboro, NJ/Holy Cross) drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a single by freshman center fielder Marissa Van Cleef (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough). One out later, senior pitcher Michelle Schlichtig (Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights) singled home the tying run. Junior third baseman Megan Farrell (Medford, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) added an RBI single to give the Raptors the lead.

St. Thomas fought back in the top of the fifth inning to take a 3-2 lead after an RBI double by Conway tied the game. Conway scored on a single by Bye.

It didn't take long for the Raptors to strike back against St. Thomas ace Janet Nagle, who lost her first game in 24 post-season decisions. Nagle, who hurled the fifth inning, opened the frame by walking junior right fielder Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional). Millett advanced as Schlichtig reached on an infield error. One out later, Farrell walked to load the bases. All the runners advanced on an illegal pitch, with Millett scoring the tying run. Following a strikeout, sophomore designated player Amber Parker (Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken) ripped a two-run single to left field, putting the Raptors ahead to stay, 5-3.

St. Thomas scored its final run in the top of the seventh following a leadoff triple by Conway. Bye singled her home, but Schlichtig wriggled out of the jam with a ground out and a pair of fly outs as the Raptors advanced to the title game.

Schlichtig (31-3) scattered six hits and three walks while allowing four earned runs. She struck out four and tied her 2004 school record with her 28th complete game of the season.

Nagle, who hurled the one inning in the fifth, took the loss, allowing one hit, two walks and three runs.

Conway went 3-for-3 with three runs and one RBI for the Tommies, while Bye was 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

For Rutgers-Camden, Parker went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

Schlichtig hurls shutout as Raptors
remain unbeaten at NCAA finals

RALEIGH, NC - Michelle Schlichtig (Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights) set Rutgers University-Camden records for career assists and single-season total bases in the 2006 NCAA Division III Softball Championship here Saturday, but more importantly to the senior All-American was the fact that she extended her own single-season and career marks for victories.

Michelle Schlichtig fired a four-hit shutout to defeat Coe College, 5-0

Schlichtig, who raised her record to 30-3 with her 80th career Raptor win and 40th career shutout, walked three and struck out six. She also tied her 2004 single-season record with her 31st start.

Mo Baney drove home three runs in the Raptors' 5-0 win over Coe, including a two-run single in the sixth inning.

Rutgers-Camden put the game away with a four-run sixth inning after junior right fielder Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional) reached on an error and advanced on a single by Schlichtig. The Raptors loaded the bases with a single by sophomore first baseman Kathleen Dreitlein (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston). Two runs scored when junior third baseman Megan Farrell (Medford, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) hit a ground ball to shortstop and the throw home was missed by the Kohawks' catcher, plating both Schlichtig and Millett. Baney followed with a two-run single.

Schlichtig went 2-for-2 at the plate with two runs, giving her 96 total bases on the season. That allowed her to break the single-season mark of 95 total bases she set in 2005.

Schlichtig also collected one assist to give her 244 for her career, breaking the old mark of 243 by Celeste Chinappi (2002-05). Chinappi is one of the Lady Raptors' coaches this season.

Coe left fielder Ashley Wagner collected two of the four hits off Schlichtig.

Taylor's double gives Raptors opening win
at NCAA Div. III Softball Championship

RALEIGH, NC - Freshman pinch-hitter Heather Taylor (Clementon, NJ/Overbrook) doubled home the tie-breaking runs in a two-run bottom of the sixth inning to lift Rutgers University-Camden over Ramapo College, 3-1, in the opening game of the 2006 NCAA Division III Softball Championship here May 19.

Taylor, who had only 16 at bats during her first season of collegiate ball, pinch-hit for the Scarlet Raptors with the score knotted at 1-1. She laced a double to left field, plating junior third baseman Megan Farrell (Medford, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) and sophomore designated player Amber Parker (Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken). Farrell had opened the inning with a single to center field and Parker drew a one-out walk, setting the stage for Taylor.

Taylor's double raised her batting average to .412 (7-for-17). She has two doubles, one home run, seven runs and seven RBIs.

The win lifted the Raptors into Saturday's third game, where Rutgers-Camden will face the winner of Friday's Coe/Ithaca contest in a 4 p.m. game. Ramapo faces the loser of that Coe/Ithaca game Saturday at 11 a.m.

Taylor's hit made a winner out of Scarlet Raptor senior ace Michelle Schlichtig (Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights), who tossed a four-hitter, walking three and striking out seven. Schlichtig raised her record to 29-3.

Ramapo (36-12) scored the first run when second baseman Ginny O'Brien hit a leadoff double in the third inning. A pair of walks loaded the bases with no outs, but Schlichtig escaped major damage with only one run scoring. Designated player Becky Pollak poked a shot into right field, but was thrown out at first base on a fine play by Raptor junior right fielder Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional). One run scored on the play, but Schlichtig collected a strikeout and a ground out to end the threat.

The Raptors tied the game in the bottom of the third when junior shortstop Alaina Giles (Willingboro, NJ/Holy Cross) drew a two-out walk, stole second and scored on a single by freshman center fielder Marissa Van Cleef (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough).

NCAA Division III Softball Championship (Peace College, Raleigh, NC)
Friday, May 19
Game 1: Rutgers University-Camden 3, Ramapo College 1
Game 2: Coe vs. Ithaca, 1:30 p.m.
Game 3: St. Thomas vs. Williams, 4 p.m.
Game 4: Muskingum vs. Linfield, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 20
Game 5: Ramapo vs. Loser Game 2, 11 a.m.
Game 6: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 1:30 p.m.
Game 7: Rutgers-Camden vs. Winner Game 2, 4 p.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 21
Game 9: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 7, 12 p.m.
Game 10: Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8, 2:30 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 5 p.m.
Game 12: Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 9, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, May 22
Game 13: Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 11, 12 p.m.
Game 14: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 13, 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 23
Game 15: If necessary, same matchup as Game 14, 11 a.m.

Rutgers-Camden's Schlichtig
repeats as First Team All-American

CAMDEN - When Rutgers University-Camden senior pitcher Michelle Schlichtig (Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights) takes the mound at the 2006 NCAA Division III Softball Championships in Raleigh, North Carolina, May 19, she'll do so as a two-time All-American.

Schlichtig was one of the distinguished guests at the pre-tournament championship banquet May 18 when the 2006 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III All-America Team was introduced. She earned All-America First Team honors for the second straight year, and is the only player from the NCAA East Region to be named as a First Team All-American. For the second consecutive season, Schlichtig is one of only two pitchers on the All-American First Team, this year joining junior Laurel Sagartz of Washington University in St. Louis.

Michelle Schlichtig, center, receives congratulations for her perfect game April 25, 2006

When she captured her honor in 2005, Schlichtig became the only NCAA All-America First Team athlete in Rutgers-Camden history. She repeated this season after crafting a 28-3 record with a 0.96 ERA, 16 shutouts and 279 strikeouts in 196.2 innings.

Schlichtig also is hitting .381 with team-leading totals of eight home runs, 44 RBIs and 56 hits as a senior.

That performance has vaulted the Scarlet Raptors to a record-breaking 43-5 season - including a program-mark 29 straight wins earlier this year - and into the national championships for the first time ever. Rutgers-Camden, which won the NCAA East Regional on its home field May 14, begins play in the Div. III World Series May 19 at 11 a.m. The Raptors, ranked No. 3 nationally, will face a familiar foe, playing New Jersey Athletic Conference rival Ramapo College. The teams already have met five times this season. Rutgers-Camden holds a 4-1 edge, with two of those wins coming in one-run ballgames.

Schlichtig is 3-1 against the Roadrunners, who are the only team to score runs off the Raptor All-American since Neumann College scored a run on April 19. Following that game, Schlichtig reeled off an amazing 52 consecutive scoreless innings, which tied for the sixth-longest shutout streak in NCAA Division III history. That string was snapped when Ramapo scored off Schlichtig in three straight games while the Scarlet Raptors were winning the NJAC Championship May 6-7. Schlichtig has rebounded with 24 consecutive scoreless innings, including a trio of two-hit shutouts on her way to a berth on the all-tournament team at the NCAA East Regionals. She also hit .889 (8-for-9) with four doubles, one home run, four runs and three RBIs in the regional tournament.

The All-America honor is just the latest in a long line of awards for Schlichtig, who captured her second consecutive NJAC Pitcher of the Year and received her third straight All-NJAC First Team recognition last week. Those awards go with the NJAC Player of the Year she won as a sophomore.

Out of the 11 weekly NJAC honors this season, Schlichtig has received six NJAC Pitcher of the Week and one NJAC Player of the Week awards. She also has earned three honors as the ECAC Metro Div. III Pitcher of the Week and one ECAC Metro Div. III Player of the Week award.

Schlichtig, who holds virtually every major pitching record at Rutgers-Camden, has hurled four no-hitters this season and seven over her three-year Raptor career, during which she has compiled a 78-17 record. Coupled with the 22 wins during her freshman season at Division I Fordham University before transferring to Rutgers-Camden, Schlichtig has an even 100 victories as a collegiate pitcher.

Two of Schlichtig's no-hitters this season have been perfect games, and she missed a third perfect game by allowing a sixth-inning walk in a no-hitter against William Paterson University during the NJAC tournament May 5.

This season, Schlichtig has set program marks for wins (28, breaking her own mark of 27 from last year), shutouts (16, breaking her mark of 12 last season), appearances (36), saves (4) and consecutive shutouts (6), in addition to her 52 consecutive scoreless innings. At the national tournament she could also break her own 2004 marks of 31 starts (she has 29 now) and 28 complete games (25 now). She also has set single-season offensive records of 44 RBIs and 56 hits this season, and her 94 total bases are one shy of the program mark she set last year. In addition, she enters the national finals with 82 assists, 10 shy of her single-season mark set in 2005.

For her career, Schlichtig holds Rutgers-Camden pitching marks with 103 appearances, 90 starts, 80 complete games, 78 wins, 881 strikeouts, 631 innings, six saves, 39 shutouts, 2,176 at bats, 2,400 batters faced and 13 hit batsmen. She owns a 0.72 career ERA.

Schlichtig also owns the Raptors' career offensive records with 264 total bases and 103 RBIs. With 162 hits, she is four shy of Celeste Chinappi's career mark of 166 hits (2002-05), and she also enters the NCAA finals tied for career records of 39 doubles (Sarah O'Malley, 2001-03) and 243 assists (Chinappi). In addition, she is currently second on the career list with 106 runs scored (three behind teammate Autumn Millett) and 19 home runs (four behind Millett).

Schlichtig has recorded 42 double-digit strikeout games at Rutgers-Camden. Her career high of 17 (against Swarthmore April 8, 2004) is two shy of O'Malley's single-game school record set against Centenary March 29, 2001.

Schlichtig broke O'Malley's mark of 11 consecutive strikeouts by fanning the first 14 batters in a five-inning no-hitter against John Jay College March 31. She recorded all 15 outs on strikeouts and missed a perfect game on a two-out error in the last inning.

Prior to that performance, Schlichtig threw a perfect game and also tied a single-game program mark by drawing four walks against Keystone College on March 25. She fanned 13 in that five-inning game, including the first nine. When she finally allowed a fourth-inning hit against William Paterson on April 1, it snapped her streak of 14 consecutive no-hit innings. Later in the season over a three-game span, which included a no-hitter of William Paterson May 5, Schlichtig had a streak of 14.1 consecutive no-hit innings (May 2-6).

In addition to all her individual accomplishments, Schlichtig combined with Becky Johnson on the Scarlet Raptors' 2004 pitching staff which led all NCAA Division III programs in team ERA (0.59).

Michelle Schlichtig's Major Awards

2006 (so far)
NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) All-America First Team
NCAA East Regional All-Tournament team
NJAC Pitcher of the Year
All-NJAC First Team
NJAC Pitcher of the Week: March 27, April 3, 17, May 2, 8, 15
ECAC Pitcher of the Week: March 28, April 18, May 2
NJAC Player of the Week: March 20
ECAC Player of the Week: March 21
Rutgers-Camden team MVP
Rutgers-Camden Co-Athlete of the Year
2005
NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) All-America First Team
NFCA East Region First Team
NCAA East Regional All-Tournament team
ECAC Div. III Metro Pitcher of the Year
All-ECAC Metro First Team
NJAC Pitcher of the Year
All-NJAC First Team
NJAC Pitcher of Week: March 14, 21, April 4, 11
ECAC Metro Pitcher of Week: March 22, April 5, 12
Rutgers-Camden team MVP
Rutgers-Camden Athlete of the Year
2004
NJAC Player of the Year
All-NJAC First Team
ECAC Metro Co-Pitcher of the Year
All-ECAC Metro First Team
NJAC Pitcher of the Week May 3, 10
ECAC Metro Pitcher of the Week May 4
NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team
Rutgers-Camden team MVP

NCAA NOTES: Rutgers-Camden enters the first NCAA finals in school history with a 43-5 record, having won 33 of its last 34 games, including 29 straight from March 25-May 6. Both the 43 total wins and 29 straight wins are program records…The Scarlet Raptors enter the national finals ranked No. 3 in the country, their second-highest ranking ever (they were No. 2 in the poll on April 27, 2005)…Seven out of the eight teams in the national tournament were ranked in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association NCAA Division III poll, led by No. 1 St. Thomas (MN), the two-time defending national champion. Also ranked are No. 2 Muskingum, No. 3 Rutgers-Camden, No. 4 Ithaca, No. 13 Williams, No. 14 Linfield and No. 18 Ramapo. Only Coe College, which won the regional in Rock Island, Illinois, is unranked heading into the finals.

The Scarlet Raptors are 4-2 this season against teams in the tourney field. They went 4-1 against conference rival Ramapo College, their opening-game opponent, and lost a 4-3 decision March 18 in California against two-time defending NCAA champion the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)…Of Rutgers-Camden's other three losses this season, two came against NCAA regional participants (Fontbonne and Central) and the other came against St. Mary's University, which went 25-15-1 while competing in the same Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference as St. Thomas.

Rutgers-Camden swept Ramapo College in a pair of tight games, 2-1 and 5-4, April 15 in Mahwah. The teams also played three times in the NJAC Championships at Rutgers-Camden on back-to-back days May 6-7. Rutgers-Camden won the winners' bracket final, 9-3, May 6. Ramapo came out of the losers' bracket and defeated the Raptors, 7-2, in the opening game on May 7, forcing a winner-take-all game which Rutgers-Camden won by the same 7-2 score…Out of the 27 earned runs allowed by Schlichtig all season, nine came against Ramapo in those three NJAC tournament games May 6-7. The Roadrunners are the only team to score any runs - earned or unearned - off Schlichtig since April 19…Ramapo's first run on May 6 snapped Schlichtig's streak of 52 consecutive scoreless innings, tied for the sixth-longest string in NCAA Division III history.

Coach Carl Taylor has a 214-113-2 mark in his 11th season at Rutgers-Camden, including 114-22-1 in his last three.

Record watch: The Raptors have a number of career records that could fall at nationals. Schlichtig enters the event tied for the career mark of 39 doubles (by Sarah O'Malley, 2001-03) and 243 assists (by Celeste Chinappi, 2002-05). Junior shortstop Alaina Giles (Willingboro, NJ/Holy Cross) enters the NCAA finals tied for with Chinappi's career record of nine HBP. There also is a logjam of four players who have hit four sacrifice flies in their career, tying the program mark. Two are current Raptors, junior catcher Mo Baney (Deptford, NJ/Deptford) and junior third baseman Megan Farrell (Medford, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep). Schlichtig also has 162 hits, four shy of Chinappi's career mark.

The battles for career records in runs scored, walks and home runs are two-player races with junior right fielder Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional) currently leading Schlichtig in all three categories: 109-106 in runs, 62-61 in walks and 23-19 in home runs.

Among single-season records, sophomore first baseman Kathleen Dreitlein (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston) had 15 doubles and Schlichtig has 14. O'Malley set the season mark of 16 in 2001…Schlichtig's 94 total bases are one behind the record she set in 2005…Schlichtig and Millett are tied for the team lead with eight home runs, two shy of Becky Johnson's 2004 season mark…Schlichtig set single-season marks of 31 starts and 28 complete games in 2004, but enters the tournament with 29 starts and 25 complete games…Defensively, Baney has 371 putouts, 20 shy of her 2005 school record, and Schlichtig's 82 assists are 10 shy of the mark she set last year.

NCAA Division III Softball Championship (Peace College, Raleigh, NC)
Friday, May 19
Game 1: Rutgers University-Camden vs. Ramapo College, 11 a.m.
Game 2: Coe vs. Ithaca, 1:30 p.m.
Game 3: St. Thomas vs. Williams, 4 p.m.
Game 4: Muskingum vs. Linfield, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 20
Game 5: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 11 a.m.
Game 6: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 1:30 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 4 p.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 21
Game 9: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 7, 12 p.m.
Game 10: Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8, 2:30 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 5 p.m.
Game 12: Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 9, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, May 22
Game 13: Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 11, 12 p.m.
Game 14: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 13, 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 23
Game 15: If necessary, same matchup as Game 14, 11 a.m.

Rutgers-Camden advances
to NCAA Div. III softball finals

CAMDEN - The third time was the charm.

After knocking on the door of the NCAA finals for two consecutive years, the Rutgers University-Camden softball team swept into the national finals here May 14. The top-seeded Lady Raptors rode the two-hit shutout pitching of senior All-American Michelle Schlichtig (Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights) as they defeated second-seeded Rowan University, 5-0, to capture the NCAA East Regional.

With their victory, the Raptors become the first team in school history to advance to the NCAA finals. Rutgers-Camden, which barely missed the national finals when it finished as the regional runnerup in both 2004 and 2005, will begin play in the 2006 NCAA Division III Softball Championship Friday at 11 a.m. The Lady Raptors will face a familiar opponent in New Jersey Athletic Conference rival Ramapo College, which captured the Mid-Atlantic Regional in Salisbury, MD.

Rutgers-Camden and Ramapo have played five times this season, with the Raptors holding a 4-1 edge.

The Raptors had to outlast another NJAC foe in their regional final as Schlichtig out-dueled Rowan senior ace Colleen Oswald (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) for the second time in the tournament. Schlichtig struck out four while hurling her third shutout of the regionals. In three regional games, she worked 21 shutout innings, allowing six hits and five walks while striking out 26.

Rutgers-Camden, which edged Rowan, 1-0, in Saturday's winners' bracket final, appeared headed for another one-run game on Sunday. The Lady Raptors finally broke the scoring ice against Oswald in the fifth inning when Schlichtig ripped a two-out double - her second two-bagger of the day - and scored on a double by sophomore first baseman Kathleen Dreitlein (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston).

The Lady Raptors put the game away in a four-run top of the seventh inning. With one out, junior right fielder Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional) reached on an error in left field. Schlichtig followed with a single and Dreitlein walked to load the bases. Junior third baseman Megan Farrell (Medford, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) singled to left field driving home the second run of the game and junior catcher Mo Baney (Deptford, NJ/Deptford) was safe on a fielder's choice that plated another run and failed to retire a runner. Sophomore designated player Amber Parker (Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken) grounded out to bring home the third run of the inning and sophomore second baseman Jayme Feriod (Glassboro, NJ/Glassboro) capped the frame with an RBI single to center.

In addition to her pitching, Schlichtig went 8-for-9 (.889) during the regional with four doubles, one home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. She was 3-for-4 with two runs and two doubles in the championship game, while Feriod went 2-for-2 with two walks and one stolen base.

Rowan, which closed its season with a school-record 41 wins (41-7) received singles from sophomore second baseman Lauren Navarro (West Milford, NJ/West Milford) with two outs in the fifth inning - breaking up a perfect game by Schlichtig - and a leadoff single by senior center fielder Katie Lavin (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) in the sixth.

Oswald, who finished with a 33-5 mark, allowed eight hits, three walks and five runs, only one earned. She struck out six. Three of her losses came in head-to-head duels with Schlichtig.

Rutgers-Camden, now 43-5, heads into the national finals having won 33 of its last 34 games, including four straight. The Raptors are ranked No. 3 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III poll, which was released May 10.

NCAA DIVISION III SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP CAMDEN REGIONAL
Thursday, May 11
Game 1: #4 Pitt-Bradford 8, #5 Manhattanville 5
Game 2: #3 Tufts 4, #6 Wilkes 3
Game 3: #2 Rowan 4, #7 Hunter 0
Game 4: #1 Rutgers-Camden 4, #4 Pitt-Bradford 0

Friday, May 12
Game 5: #5 Manhattanville 3, #7 Hunter 1 (Hunter eliminated)
Game 6: #6 Wilkes University 5, #4 Pitt-Bradford 3 (Pitt-Bradford eliminated)
Game 7: #2 Rowan 1, #3 Tufts 0
Game 8: #6 Wilkes 2, #5 Manhattanville 1 (Manhattanville eliminated)

Saturday, May 13
Game 9: #1 Rutgers-Camden 1, #2 Rowan 0
Game 10: #3 Tufts 3, #6 Wilkes 0 (Wilkes eliminated)
Game 11: #2 Rowan 6, #3 Tufts 5 (Tufts eliminated)

Sunday, May 14
Game 12: #1 Rutgers-Camden 5, #2 Rowan 0
Rutgers-Camden wins NCAA East Regional

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Position Player Team
Catcher - Jan Nunemacher (Wilkes University)
First Base - Nicole Oliva (Manhattanville College)
Second Base - LeeAnn Kramer (Univ. of Pitt-Bradford)
Third Base - Samantha Kuhles (Tufts University)
Shortstop - Brittany McLean (Univ. of Pitt-Bradford)
Outfield - Katie Lavin (Rowan University)
Outfield - Autumn Millett (Rutgers University-Camden)
Outfield - Jennifer Ithier (Hunter College)
Pitcher - Michelle Schlichtig (Rutgers University-Camden)
Pitcher - Colleen Oswald (Rowan University)
Designated/Utility Player - Sam Evanich (Wilkes University)
At-Large - Erica Bailey (Tufts University)
At-Large - Laurie Agresti (Wilkes University)
At-Large - Kathleen Dreitlein (Rutgers University-Camden)
At-Large - Kristina Brenner (Rowan University)

Schlichtig sparks Rutgers-Camden
into NCAA Regional title game

CAMDEN -Rutgers University-Camden senior All-American Michelle Schlichtig (Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights) hurled a two-hit shutout and doubled home the only run of the game as the top-seeded Lady Raptors defeated No. 2 seed Rowan University, 1-0, in the winners' bracket final at the NCAA Div. III Softball Championship Camden Regional here May 13..

After #3 Tufts edged #6 Wilkes, 3-0, in a losers' bracket game interrupted by a 1:24 rain delay, Rowan outlasted Tufts, 6-5, to advance to the regional final.

Saturday's results will pit Rutgers-Camden (42-5) against Rowan (41-6) for the regional championship beginning Sunday at 12 p.m. If Rutgers-Camden loses the first game, a winner-take-all game will follow.

The regional champion advances to the 2006 NCAA Division III Softball Championship May 19-23 at Peace College in Raleigh, NC.

#1 Rutgers-Camden 1, #2 Rowan 0
In a duel between the two pitchers who earned All-New Jersey Athletic Conference First Team honors, Schlichtig extended her single-season school record to 15 shutouts and ripped an RBI double in the sixth for the only run of the game off Rowan senior ace Colleen Oswald (Sewell, NJ/Paulsboro).

Schlichtig finished with a two-hitter, walking three and striking out seven as she raised her record to 27-3. The 27 wins tied her own single-season program mark set in 2005.

Rutgers-Camden, ranked No. 3 in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III poll, scored the only run of the game following a leadoff walk to junior right fielder Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional) in the sixth. Schlichtig slammed her 12th double of the season to the fence in center field, plating Millett. The RBI was Schlichtig's 44th of the season, breaking the old school mark of 43 set by Tara Harris in 1988.

Oswald allowed only four hits, four walks and the one earned run for the Profs, who are ranked No. 11 nationally. She struck out three.

Schlichtig went 2-for-2 as the lone hitter in the game to collect multiple hits.

#2 Rowan 6, #3 Tufts 5
The Profs scored a first-inning run to take the lead for good, then exploded for five runs in a five-hit third inning to grab a 6-0 lead. Rowan needed every run it scored, as Tufts rallied with a five-run fourth inning off Oswald before falling a run short.

The Jumbos, a promising young team comprised primarily of freshmen and sophomores, ended their fine season at 28-16.

Rowan opened the game with a single by freshman left fielder Kristina Brenner (Vineland, NJ/Vineland). She was sacrificed to second and scored on a two-out double to left-center by junior designated player Jen Lake (Carneys Point, NJ/Penns Grove).

The Profs added five hits in a five-run third inning, including a run-scoring triple by sophomore third baseman Kristin Wallace (Glassboro, NJ/Washington Township), an RBI single by sophomore second baseman Lauren Navarro (West Milford, NJ/West Milford) and a two-run double by senior shortstop Casey Bartolf (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial). The explosion was capped by an RBI infield single from junior right fielder Stacy Haas (Florence, NJ/Florence).

Behind Oswald -- who had thrown two shutouts and allowed only one run in the entire tournament - that lead seemed huge, but the Jumbos made it a close game in a hurry. With one out in the fourth inning, freshman third baseman Samantha Kuhles (Somerville, NJ/Rutgers Prep) collected an infield single. She went to third on a double to left field by sophomore second baseman Danielle Lopez (Danvers, MA/Danvers). Freshman first baseman Cara Hovhanessian (Farmington, CT/Farmington) followed with a two-run double to left center, cutting the gap to 6-2. Following a single by sophomore pitcher Erica Bailey (Scottsdale, AZ/Chaparral) and a pop out, Hovhanessian scored on a wild pitch. Sophomore catcher Megan Cusick (Albany, NY/Albany) capped the frame with a two-run homer, slicing the gap to 6-5.

The Jumbos got the tying run to second base in the fifth inning, but the frame ended when Hovhanessian lined out to Oswald. The Rowan ace retired the side in order over the last two innings to raise her record to 33-4. She finished with a six-hitter and one walk, while adding three strikeouts.

Tufts freshman starter Lauren Gelmetti (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) took the loss, allowing seven hits and all six runs in 2.1 innings. Gelmetti (7-3) walked two and struck out one. Bailey turned in a fine job in relief with 4.2 shutout innings, allowing only two hits.

Rowan senior center fielder Katie Lavin (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) and Tufts' Lopez each went 2-for-3.

#3 Tufts 3, #6 Wilkes 0
Freshman right fielder Maya Ripecky (Chicago, IL/Northside) hit a one-out home run in the bottom of the fifth inning off Wilkes junior ace Laurie Agresti (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin East). That was all the Jumbos needed behind the three-hit shutout pitching of Sarah Conroy (Biddeford, ME/Biddeford), who walked one and struck out one in raising her record to 9-4.

The game was delayed for 1:24 entering the bottom of the sixth, and as soon as play resumed, the Jumbos put two runs on the board for insurance. The frame opened with a single by sophomore shortstop Heather Kleinberger (New City, NY/Clarkstown) and a one-out single by Kuhles. With two outs, Bailey hit a bad-hop two-run single up the middle.

Bailey and Ripecky each went 2-for-3 for the Jumbos.

The Colonels, who finished their season at 28-15, received a 2-for-2 performance from freshman second baseman Kathy Dalton (Neptune, NJ/St. Rose).

Agresti (15-6) allowed seven hits and three earned runs in six innings. She struck out six and didn't walk a batter.

NCAA DIVISION III SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP CAMDEN REGIONAL
Thursday, May 11
Game 1: #4 Pitt-Bradford 8, #5 Manhattanville 5
Game 2: #3 Tufts 4, #6 Wilkes 3
Game 3: #2 Rowan 4, #7 Hunter 0
Game 4: #1 Rutgers-Camden 4, #4 Pitt-Bradford 0

Friday, May 12
Game 5: #5 Manhattanville 3, #7 Hunter 1 (Hunter eliminated)
Game 6: #6 Wilkes University 5, #4 Pitt-Bradford 3 (Pitt-Bradford eliminated)
Game 7: #2 Rowan 1, #3 Tufts 0
Game 8: #6 Wilkes 2, #5 Manhattanville 1 (Manhattanville eliminated)

Saturday, May 13
Game 9: #1 Rutgers-Camden 1, #2 Rowan 0
Game 10: #3 Tufts 3, #6 Wilkes 0 (Wilkes eliminated)
Game 11: #2 Rowan 6, #3 Tufts 5 (Tufts eliminated)

Sunday, May 14
Game 12: #1 Rutgers-Camden (42-5) vs. #2 Rowan (41-6), 12 p.m.
Game 13: If necessary, 2:30 p.m.

Lady Raptors' Feriod captures
Academic All-District II Second Team honor

CAMDEN - Rutgers University-Camden sophomore Jayme Feriod (Glassboro, NJ/Glassboro) has been named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) District II College Division Softball Academic All-District II Second Team.

Feriod, who carries a 3.67 gpa as a Nursing major, is hitting .343 this season as the Lady Raptors' starting second baseman. She has been a key cog in helping Rutgers-Camden post a 42-5 record heading into Sunday's NCAA Regional championship game. The Lady Raptors are ranked third in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III poll.

The honor is the second major award for Feriod this month. She also was named Honorable Mention on the All-New Jersey Athletic Conference softball all-star team.

Feriod started her sophomore season by earning the NJAC's first Player of the Week this spring, winning the award on March 6. A slap hitter who creates havoc on the bases with her speed, Feriod has 27 runs scored, two doubles and 11 RBIs this year. She also has drawn 11 walks and reached base four times as a hit batsman. She leads the team in stolen bases, swiping eight out of 11 attempts.

As a freshman last season, Feriod hit .264 while starting 40 games for the Lady Raptors. She finished fourth on the team with 22 runs and went 4-for-4 on stolen base attempts.

Feriod also earned a NJAC Rookie of the Week honor on March 21, 2005.

A softball, basketball and field hockey star at Glassboro High School, Feriod also was named as a Tri-County Conference Scholar Athlete in 2004.

A Rutgers-Camden Honors College student, Jayme is the daughter of John and Laura Feriod of Glassboro.

Rowan advances to play Raptors
at NCAA Softball Camden Regional

CAMDEN - Rowan University senior ace Colleen Oswald (Sewell, NJ/Paulsboro) hurled a five-hit shutout as the second-seeded Profs edged third-seeded Tufts University, 1-0, here May 12 to advance to the winners' bracket final of the NCAA Div. III Softball Championship Camden Regional.

Rowan, which improved to 40-5 to post the first 40-win season in program history, advanced to Saturday's 10 a.m. winners' bracket final, where it will play top-seeded Rutgers University-Camden (41-5) in a match up of New Jersey Athletic Conference powers.

In addition to the winners' bracket game, Friday's action featured a trio of contests in the losers' bracket. In the first game, #5 Manhattanville eliminated #7 Hunter (20-18), 3-1. In the second game, #6 Wilkes bounced #4 Pitt-Bradford, 4-3, before eliminating Manhattanville, 2-1, in its next game.

In addition to Saturday's Rutgers-Camden/Rowan game, Tufts will face Wilkes in a losers' bracket game at 12:30 p.m. The survivor of that game will face the loser of the Rutgers-Camden/Rowan game at 3 p.m. The winner of the Rutgers-Camden/Rowan game advances to the title game Sunday at 12 p.m.

#2 Rowan 1, #3 Tufts 0
Oswald improved to 32-3 on the season as she walked three and struck out six in hurling her second shutout of the NCAA regionals. She had to be tough, as Tufts sophomore Erica Bailey (Scottsdale, AZ/Chaparral) hurled a four-hitter, allowing only four walks and one earned run. She struck out eight as her record dropped to 4-7.

Rowan scored the only run Oswald needed in the second inning after junior catcher Kim Ryan (Monmouth Junction, NJ/South Brunswick) drew a leadoff walk. She was replaced by pinch-runner Jen Blair (Woodbury, NJ/Woodbury). Blair advanced to second on a walk to sophomore second baseman Lauren Navarro (West Milford, NJ/West Milford). Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, and Blair scored on a single to right field by senior shortstop Casey Bartolf (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial).

Bartolf and Tufts freshman third baseman Samantha Kuhles (Somerville, NJ/Rutgers Prep) each went 2-for-3 in the game.

#6 Wilkes 2, #5 Manhattanville 1
Junior first baseman Julie Henry (Reading, PA/Muhlenberg) slapped a two-out RBI single through the shortstop hole in the bottom of the sixth inning and Wilkes University rode the four-hit pitching of junior Laurie Agresti (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin East) to eliminate Manhattanville. The Valiants end their season with a 30-14 record.

Agresti allowed just one earned run in raising her record to 15-5. She didn't walk a batter and struck out 11 to earn her second victory of the day for the Colonels (28-14).

Manhattanville scored a first-inning run when sophomore center fielder Amanda Nonis (Brampton, ON) was hit by a pitch and scored on a double by freshman first baseman Nicole Oliva (Hopewell Junction, NY).

Wilkes tied the game in the third on three singles, including an RBI single to left by freshman third baseman Samantha Evanich (Morrisville, PA/Conwell-Egan).

In the sixth, senior center fielder Nadine Taylor (Thompson, PA/Susquehanna) reached second base on an infield throwing error to open the frame. She was sacrificed to third and scored on a two-out single by Henry.

Manhattanville junior Maggie Thomas (Malvern, PA) took the loss, throwing a seven-hitter and allowing two runs, only one earned. She didn't walk a batter and struck out four in ending her year with a 27-10 mark.

#6 Wilkes University 5, #4 Pitt-Bradford 3
In a game which featured a big comeback, some drama and some controversy, the Colonels rallied to eliminate the Panthers, who finished their season at 35-9.

Pitt-Bradford scored a pair of runs in the second inning on a two-out single by junior center fielder Catrina Retterer (Clarendon, PA/Sheffield) They added another run in the third when junior shortstop Brittany McLean (Emporium, PA/Cameron County) drew a leadoff walk and eventually scored on a single by freshman second baseman LeeAnn Kramer (Perkasie, PA/Penn Ridge).

Trailing, 3-0, the Colonels struck for a run in the bottom of the fifth inning when Henry hit a leadoff home run. Later in the inning, the Colonels had runners at first and second with two outs when Evanich hit an apparent three-run home to vault Wilkes into the lead. It was ruled that Evanich was touched by a member of her team's welcoming committee before she reached home, and she was called out for a game-tying triple. After a lengthy discussion, in which the issue of a prior warning was discussed, the home run was upheld. Pitt-Bradford declared a protest, but withdrew the protest when the NCAA rules committee was contacted for a ruling upholding the homer.

The Colonels tacked on an unearned run in the sixth inning Agresti collected the victory, hurling four innings in relief of Evanich. Agresti allowed only one hit and two walks in her shutout stint. She struck out 10.

Pitt-Bradford junior starter Kristy Zavinski (Warren, PA/Warren) took the loss, working 4.2 innings and allowing four hits, two walks and four earned runs. Zavinski (18-5) struck out four.

#5 Manhattanville 3, #7 Hunter 1
In the opening game of the day, Manhattanville's Thomas and Hunter sophomore Stephanie Donald (Woodstock, GA/Sequoyah) hooked up in a scoreless pitchers' duel until the bottom of the fifth inning, when the Valiants opened the frame with walks to senior third baseman Janine Fortunato (Staten Island, NY) and sophomore right fielder Trina Ramsdell (Newtown, CT). After a wild pitch left runners at second and third, sophomore center fielder Amanda Nonis (Brampton, ON) hit a bad-hop RBI single off the face of Hunter second baseman Catherine Alves (Queens, NY/Francis Lewis). Following a pitching change and a strikeout, freshman first baseman Nicole Oliva (Hopewell Junction, NY) delivered a two-run triple to center field.
Hunter, which closes at 20-18, scored a run in the top of the fifth on three hits, including an RBI single by Donald. The Hawks mounted a major threat in the top of the seventh when they loaded the bases with no outs on a pair of singles sandwiched around a walk. Manhattanville junior shortstop Casey Killard (East Meadow, NY) cut down a pair of runners on force outs at the plate, aided by a fine play on the second out by junior catcher Michele Ribeiro (West Hartford, CT). A fly out to left ended the game, as Thomas raised her record to 27-9. She scattered 10 hits and walked two, but allowed only one earned run. She struck out three.
Donald (4-8) took the loss, working four innings of five-hit ball. She allowed three earned runs and two walks, while fanning one.
For Hunter, senior center fielder Jennifer Ithier (New York, NY/Manhattan Center) went 3-for-3.
Oliva went 3-for-3 with two RBIs for Manhattanville.

NCAA DIVISION III SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP CAMDEN REGIONAL
Thursday, May 11
Game 1: #4 Pitt-Bradford 8, #5 Manhattanville 5
Game 2: #3 Tufts 4, #6 Wilkes 3
Game 3: #2 Rowan 4, #7 Hunter 0
Game 4: #1 Rutgers-Camden 4, #4 Pitt-Bradford 0

Friday, May 12
Game 5: #5 Manhattanville 3, #7 Hunter 1 (Hunter eliminated)
Game 6: #6 Wilkes University 5, #4 Pitt-Bradford 3 (Pitt-Bradford eliminated)
Game 7: #2 Rowan 1, #3 Tufts 0
Game 8: #6 Wilkes 2, #5 Manhattanville 1 (Manhattanville eliminated)

Saturday, May 13
Game 9: Rutgers-Camden (41-5) vs. #3 Rowan (40-5), 10 a.m.
Game 10: #6 Wilkes (28-14) vs. #3 Tufts (27-15), 12:30 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 9, 3 p.m.

Sunday, May 14
Game 12: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 11, 12 p.m.
Game 13: If necessary, 2:30 p.m.

Schlichtig, Taylor lead Raptors
on All-NJAC softball teams

CAMDEN - Top-seeded Rutgers University-Camden rode the two-hit, 15-strikeout pitching of senior All-American Michelle Schlichtig (Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights) to a 4-0 victory over No. 4 seed Pitt-Bradford in the final game of opening-day play at the NCAA Division III Softball Championship Camden Regional here May 11.

In the first game of the day, #4 Pitt-Bradford defeated #5 Manhattanville, 8-5. Third-seeded Tufts edged #6 Wilkes, 4-3, in the second game before #2 Rowan rode the one-hit pitching of senior Colleen Oswald (Sewell, NJ/Paulsboro) to a 4-0 win over #7 Hunter College.

In Friday's games, Manhattanville (29-13) faces Hunter (20-17) in a 10 a.m. losers' bracket game, followed by another losers' bracket game at 12:30 p.m. between Wilkes (26-14) and Pitt-Bradford (35-8). At 3 p.m., Rowan (39-5) will face Tufts (27-14) in the winners' bracket. The final game of the day will pit the two losers' bracket survivors at 5:30 p.m.

Rutgers-Camden (41-5) is idle until Saturday at 10 a.m., when it faces the winner of Friday's Tufts/Rowan game.

#1 Rutgers-Camden 4, #4 Pitt-Bradford 0
Schlichtig collected the first 10 outs of the game on strikeouts and was hurling a no-hitter until freshman right fielder Michelle Kushner (McKees Rocks, PA/Sto-Rox) lined a two-out single to left in the fourth inning. Schlichtig, who raised her record to 26-3, finished with a two-hitter, allowing two walks while striking out 15. The only other hit she allowed was a pop up by Kushner in the seventh inning that fell between the Raptors' second baseman and center fielder.

Kushner finished 2-for-3 in the game.

The Lady Raptors notched a pair of runs in the third inning after junior right fielder Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional) hit a leadoff single, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Schlichtig. A single by junior third baseman Megan Farrell (Medford, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) later scored Schlichtig.

Millett and Schlichtig hit back-to-back home runs leading off the fifth inning, the team-leading eighth homer for each player. For Millett, it extended her program career record to 23 home runs. For Schlichtig, the home run allowed her to tie the single-season program RBI record of 43, set by Tara Harris in 1988.

For the Panthers, sophomore Mallory Kane (Smethport, PA/Smethport) took the loss, allowing nine hits and four earned runs. Kane, 17-4, walked two and struck out four.

Schlichtig also went 3-for-3 at the plate, while Millett added two hits.

#2 Rowan 4, #7 Hunter 0
Oswald (31-3) hurled no-hit ball until the seventh inning, when Hunter senior shortstop Kari Porto (Staten Island, NY/Port Richmond) hit a leadoff single up the middle. That was the only hit Oswald allowed as she narrowly missed her third no-hitter of the season. The only base runners she allowed came on Porto's single and a pair of hit batsmen. She struck out nine for the Profs, who are ranked No. 11 in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III poll.

The Profs scored a pair of gift runs in the second inning following a leadoff single by junior catcher Kim Ryan (Monmouth Jct., NJ/South Brunswick). With two outs, senior center fielder Katie Lavin (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) grounded back to Hunter hurler Allyshia West (Ontario, Canada/West Hills Secondary), but her throw to first was errant, rolling all the way into foul territory down the right field line as both Ryan and Lavin scored.

The Profs added two more runs in the fifth following a leadoff single by Lavin and a stolen base. She advanced on a ground out and freshman left fielder Kristina Brenner (Vineland, NJ/Vineland) was hit by a pitch and stolen second. They both scored on a two-out single to left by sophomore third baseman Kristin Wallace (Glassboro, NJ/Washington Township).

West (11-9) allowed six hits in six innings. Only two of the four runs she allowed were earned. She walked one and struck out none.

#3 Tufts 4, /#6 Wilkes 3
The Jumbos exploded for all four of their runs in the fourth inning as they overcame a 2-0 deficit to topple the Colonels.

Tufts (27-14) opened its decisive inning with a bunt single by freshman left fielder Laura Chapman (Seattle, WA/Bush School). Freshman third baseman Samantha Kuhles (Somerville, NJ/Rutgers Prep) reached base when her sacrifice bunt was misplayed for an error, and Chapman scored on a ground-rule double by sophomore second baseman Danielle Lopez (Danvers, MA/Danvers). Freshman designated player Cara Hovhanessian (Farmington, CT/Farmington) reached on a fielder's choice in which a fielding error allowed a pair of runs to score and advanced Hovhanessian all the way to third base. One out later, freshman right fielder Maya Ripecky (Chicago, IL/Northside) poked an RBI single.

Wilkes scored a pair of runs in the second inning on a two-run home run by freshman third baseman Melisa Bracone (Farmingville, NY/Sachem East). The Colonels (26-14) scored their final run on a solo home run in the sixth by freshman designated player Samantha Evanich (Morrisville, PA/Conwell-Egan).

For Tufts, senior Julie Brenta (San Anselmo, CA/Redwood) collected the win to raise her record to 8-2. She allowed eight hits and three earned runs in five innings, striking out three. Freshman Lauren Gelmetti (Westfield, NJ/

Westfield) worked the last two shutout innings, striking out four, to earn her first save.

Wilkes junior Laurie Agresti (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin East) took the loss, hurling a five-hitter and allowing four runs (two earned) and one walk. Agresti (13-5) struck out six.

#4 Pitt-Bradford 8, /#5 Manhattanville 5
Manhattanvillle took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a pair of singles by sophomore center fielder Amanda Nonis (Brampton, ON) and junior catcher Michele Ribeiro (West Hartford, CT), with Ribeiro plating the run. Pitt-Bradford, however, bounced back in the bottom of the frame with two runs on a hit batsman and three hits, including an RBI double by junior shortstop Brittany McLean (Emporium, PA/Cameron County) and a run-scoring single by winning pitcher Kristy Zavinski (Warren, PA/Warren).

The Panthers added three runs in the second on a three-run home run by McLean, her team-leading ninth of the year.

Pitt-Bradford tacked on a run in the third on a home run by freshman second baseman Lee Ann Kramer (Perkasie, PA/Penn Ridge) and added a pair of runs in the fourth on a double by junior left fielder Jamie Keane (Bradford, PA/Bradford) and a double error on a squeeze by senior third baseman Michelle Pushinsky (Albion, PA/Northwestern), which allowed Pushinsky to come all the way around to score.

Trailing, 8-2, Manhattanville (29-13) added its final three runs in the seventh on a three-run home run by losing pitcher Maggie Thomas (Malvern, PA).

Zavinski (18-4) scattered 11 hits and allowed five earned runs and two walks, while striking out two. Thomas (26-9) allowed eight hits and eight runs, while walking two and fanning four.

McLean went 2-for-3 with two runs and four RBIs for the Panthers, while Thomas went 2-for-4 with one run and three RBIs for the Valiants.

NCAA DIVISION III SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST-ROUND
Thursday, May 11
Game 1: #4 Pitt-Bradford 8, #5 Manhattanville 5
Game 2: #3 Tufts 4, #6 Wilkes 3
Game 3: #2 Rowan 4, #7 Hunter 0
Game 4: #1 Rutgers-Camden 4, #4 Pitt-Bradford 0

Friday, May 12
Game 5: #5 Manhattanville (29-13) vs. #7 Hunter (20-17), 10 a.m.
Game 6: #6 Wilkes University (26-14) vs. #4 Pitt-Bradford (35-8), 12:30 p.m.
Game 7: #3 Tufts (27-14) vs. #2 Rowan (39-5), 3 p.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 13
Game 9: Rutgers-Camden (41-5) vs. Winner Game 7, 10 a.m.
Game 10: Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 7, 12:30 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 9, 3 p.m.

Sunday, May 14
Game 12: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 11, 12 p.m.
Game 13: If necessary, 2:30 p.m.

Schlichtig, Taylor lead Raptors
on All-NJAC softball teams

CAMDEN - Rutgers University-Camden senior Michelle Schlichtig (Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights) was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year and the Lady Raptors' Head Coach Carl Taylor captured NJAC Coach of the Year honors as the NJAC named its all-conference teams May 10.

Schlichtig was one of four Lady Raptors on the All-NJAC First Team, including junior catcher Mo Baney (Deptford, NJ/Deptford), junior right fielder Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional) and sophomore first baseman Kathleen Dreitlein (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston).

A pair of Rutgers-Camden sophomores were named All-NJAC Honorable Mention: second baseman Jayme Feriod (Glassboro, NJ/Glassboro) and designated player Amber Parker (Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken), who earned a berth on the team as a utility player.

Schlichtig's honor was the third major NJAC award for the All-American pitcher in her three years at Rutgers-Camden. In 2004, she captured NJAC Player of the Year honors. The last two seasons she has been named the NJAC Pitcher of the Year.

Michelle Schlichtig

Taylor earned his second honor as NJAC Coach of the Year in three seasons after his team swept through the regular season with a perfect 18-0 conference record and then added the NJAC title by winning the conference tournament. He also won NJAC Coach of the Year honors in 2004. Taylor currently owns a 211-115-2 record in his 11th year at Rutgers-Camden.

Taylor's team, 40-5 and ranked No. 4 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Div. III poll, will be making its third straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament when it hosts one of the eighth NCAA Regionals beginning Thursday. The Lady Raptors, seeded No. 1 in the regional, will play at 5:30 p.m. against the winner of the 10 a.m. battle between No. 4 Pitt-Bradford and No. 5 Manhattanville.

Carl Taylor

On the way to the best season in school history, Taylor earned his 200th career win April 25 in an 11-0 victory over New Jersey City University. That game was highlighted by a perfect game from Schlichtig.

Schlichtig has tossed four no-hitters this season, including a pair of perfect games. She missed a third perfect game by allowing a sixth-inning walk in a no-hitter against William Paterson University during the NJAC tournament May 5.

Schlichtig, who capped an award-filled year last season by earning NFCA All-America First Team honors, holds every major pitching record at Rutgers-Camden, both single-season and career. This year she is 25-3 with a 1.08 ERA, striking out 253 batters in 175.2 innings. She already has broken her own single-season mark with 13 shutouts, and she has set school records with six straight shutouts and an amazing 52 consecutive scoreless innings, tied for the sixth-longest streak in NCAA Division III history. Her 25 wins are two shy of her single-season mark of 27, set last year. She also set school records with four saves this year and six in a career.

Out of the 10 weekly awards in the NJAC this season, Schlichtig has been Pitcher of the Week five times, including the last two weeks, and Player of the Week once. She also has won three ECAC Metro Div. III Pitcher of the Week honors and one ECAC Metro Div. III Player of the Week award.

For the season, Schlichtig is hitting .348 and is tied for the team lead with seven home runs. Her team-leading 41 RBIs are two shy of tying the single-season school record. She also holds the Raptors' career records with 249 total bases and 100 RBIs heading into the NCAA tournament.

Mo Baney

Baney has earned All-NJAC First Team honors in each of her three years at Rutgers-Camden. She also was named to the All-ECAC Metro First Team and the NFCA East Region First Team as a sophomore last season. This year she passed the century plateau in games played (she currently has 134) and hits (130) for her career. The all-time program leader with 1,126 career putouts, she has 346 putouts this season and is approaching her own single-season mark of 391 set last year. She also currently sports a 1.000 fielding percentage.

Baney is batting .320 this season with 16 runs, nine doubles and 28 RBIs. She also is second on the team with six sacrifices.

Millett returns to the NJAC First Team this season after compiling a .341 batting average with 37 RBIs, nine doubles and two triples. She is tied with Schlichtig for the team lead with seven home runs and she broke Schlichtig's old single-season mark by scoring 40 runs. She also was an NJAC First Team member as a freshman in 2004, when she also was named to the All-ECAC Metro First Team. She earned NFCA East Region Second Team honors last year.

Autumn Millett

Millett currently is the program's career leader in runs scored with 105 (three ahead of Schlichtig heading into the NCAA tournament) and also owns career records with 22 home runs and 61 walks (one ahead of Schlichtig). She is second on the career chart to Schlichtig with 222 total bases. Like Baney and Schlichtig, Millett has played over 100 games (134) and collected over 100 hits (126) during her three-year Raptor career.

Kathleen Dreitlein

Dreitlein has had a breakout season as a sophomore, hitting .376 with 29 runs, 33 RBIs, four home runs, 76 total bases and a team-leading 50 hits. She enters the NCAA tournament four hits shy of Schlichtig's single-season mark of 54 hits, set last year. With 14 doubles, she is two shy of Sarah O'Malley's 2001 single-season school record.

Dreitlein was named the NJAC Player of the Week on April 17 and added the ECAC Metro Div. III Player of the Week honor the next day.

Jayme Feriod

Feriod started her sophomore season by earning the NJAC's first Player of the Week this spring, winning the award on March 6. A slap hitter who creates havoc on the bases with her speed, Feriod is hitting .353 with 27 runs, two doubles and 11 RBIs. She also has drawn 11 walks and reached base four times as a hit batsman. She leads the team in stolen bases, swiping eight out of 10 attempts.

Amber Parker

Parker, a transfer from Camden County College, has had a big season in her first year at Rutgers-Camden. She is hitting .383 with 11 runs and 14 RBIs after becoming the Raptors' designated player midway through the season. She had two home runs and four doubles.

Parker also fashioned an 11-game hitting streak, the second-longest on the club this season.

Rutgers-Camden to host
NCAA softball regional

CAMDEN - The Rutgers University-Camden Scarlet Raptors, fresh off their title at the New Jersey Athletic Conference Softball Championship over the weekend, have been chosen as a host school for one of the eight NCAA Division III Softball Championship regionals May 11-14.

The Raptors, 40-5, are the top seed in the Camden regional, which also features No. 2 Rowan (38-5), No. 3 Tufts (25-14), No. 4 University of Pittsburgh-Bradford (34-7), No. 5 Manhattanville (29-12), No. 6 Wilkes University (26-13) and No. 7 Hunter College (17-16).

Play will begin Thursday at 10 a.m. with Pitt-Bradford facing Manhattanville in Game 1. Game 2 will feature Tufts against Wilkes and Game 3 matches Rowan and Hunter.

Rutgers-Camden will play in Game 4 against the Pitt-Bradford/Manhattanville winner, with a scheduled start time of 5:30 p.m.

NCAA DIVISION III SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST-ROUND
Thursday, May 11
Game 1: #4 Pitt-Bradford vs. #5 Manhattanville, 10 a.m.
Game 2: #3 Tufts vs. #6 Wilkes, 12:30 p.m.
Game 3: #2 Rowan vs. #7 Hunter, 3 p.m.
Game 4: #1 Rutgers-Camden vs. Winner of Game 1, 5:30 p.m.

Friday, May 12
Game 5: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 3, 10 a.m.
Game 6: Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 4, 12:30 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 3 p.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 13
Game 9: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 7, 10 a.m.
Game 10: Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 7, 12:30 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 9, 3 p.m.

Sunday, May 14
Game 12: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 11, 12 p.m.
Game 13: If necessary, 2:30 p.m.

Rutgers-Camden's Schlichtig, Van Cleef
capture NJAC weekly softball honors

CAMDEN - Rutgers University-Camden senior Michelle Schlichtig (Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights) received her fifth honor this season as the New Jersey Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week and freshman center fielder Marissa Van Cleef (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) was named the NJAC Rookie of the Week when the conference announced its weekly awards May 8.

Schlichtig's honor marked the second consecutive week she received the NJAC Pitcher of the Week, winning it last on May 1. She also earned NJAC Pitcher of the Week honors on March 27, April 3 and April 17, and was the NJAC's Player of the Week on March 20. She also has earned ECAC Metro Div. III Pitcher of the Week honors on March 28, April 18 and May 2. In addition, she was the ECAC Metro Div. III Player of the Week March 21.

Van Cleef captured a rare back-to-back feat by adding the Rookie of the Week on to the Rookie Pitcher of the Week honor she received on May 1. She also was named the NJAC Rookie of the Week on March 6.

Schlichtig went 4-1 last week while pitching the Lady Raptors to the NJAC Championship. She allowed only 23 hits in 33.1 innings, while walking 10 and striking out 37. Included among her outings was a one-hit shutout over The College of New Jersey May 2 and a no-hitter in a 4-0 win to eliminate defending NJAC champion William Paterson May 5. In hurling her fourth no-hitter of the year, she missed throwing a third perfect game by only a sixth-inning walk.

During the week Schlichtig ended a consecutive scoreless inning streak at 52, tying for the sixth-longest streak in NCAA Division III history. She also had her 19-game winning streak snapped in a tournament loss to Ramapo before rebounding to pitch Rutgers-Camden to a 7-2 win over the Roadrunners in the title game.

For the season, Schlichtig is 25-3 with a 1.08 ERA and 253 strikeouts in 175.2 innings. She also has a single-season school-record 13 shutouts.

Van Cleef posted a .421 batting average (8-for-19) as the Lady Raptors' leadoff batter while helping her team capture the NJAC title. She hit safely in four of the five playoff games, including a 3-for-4 performance with two runs in a 9-3 win over Ramapo on May 6. In the championship doubleheader against Ramapo May 7, she went a combined 3-for-7, adding one RBI and one walk.

For the season, Van Cleef is hitting .304 and has scored 33 runs, third on the Lady Raptors. She enters the NCAA Regionals with 148 at bats, one behind the single-season school record shared by Schlichtig (2004) and Celeste Chinappi (2005).

In addition to Schlichtig and Van Cleef, Rutgers-Camden had numerous other NJAC weekly honors this season. Lady Raptor sophomore second baseman Jayme Feriod (Glassboro, NJ/Glassboro) was the first NJAC Player of the Week on March 6, the same day Van Cleef won Rookie of the Week and freshman Natalie Powell (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) was the Rookie Pitcher of the Week.

On March 27, freshman outfielder Mandi Moore (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddon Township) was named the NJAC Rookie of the Week.

On April 17 and 18, sophomore first baseman Kathleen Dreitlein (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston) was named the NJAC Player of the Week and the ECAC Metro Division III Player of the Week, respectively.

Rutgers-Camden outlasts Ramapo College
to capture 2006 NJAC Softball Championship

CAMDEN - The top-seeded Rutgers University-Camden Scarlet Raptors bounced back from an opening-game defeat here May 7 and went on to defeat Ramapo College, 7-2, to capture the 2006 New Jersey Athletic Conference Softball Championship.

It was the Raptors' second NJAC championship in three years and put an exclamation point on Rutgers-Camden's 18-0 run through the conference to capture the regular-season title. By winning both the regular-season and playoff championships, the Raptors became the first NJAC team to accomplish that feat since Rowan University in 2001.

Rutgers-Camden, ranked No. 4 nationally, had to bounce back from an opening-game loss, as the third-seeded Roadrunners handed the Raptors a 7-2 loss, forcing the winner-take all final.

With the NJAC championship, Rutgers-Camden posted the first 40-win season in program history, improving its record to 40-5. The Lady Raptors also earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional, which will begin Thursday at a site to be determined. It will be the Raptors' third straight appearance in the NCAA tournament. They won the NJAC title in 2004 and earned an at-large berth in 2005.

Ramapo (32-11) will await word to see if it earns an at-large berth in the NCAA tournament.

Rutgers-Camden 7, Ramapo 2
The Lady Raptors fell into a quick 1-0 hole in the top of the first inning on a two-out home run by Ramapo junior designated player Becky Pollak (Branchville, NJ/High Point Regional), but Rutgers-Camden took the lead for good in the bottom of the first. Following a leadoff walk to freshman center fielder Marissa Van Cleef (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) and a fielder's choice, senior pitcher Michelle Schlichtig (Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights) and sophomore first baseman Kathleen Dreitlein (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston) each singled. Dreitlein's single drove home the tying run. Junior third baseman Megan Farrell (Medford, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) plated the go-ahead run with her fourth sacrifice fly of the year to set a single-season school record.

The Raptors added an unearned run in the second inning before Ramapo cut the gap to 3-2 on a RBI double in the fifth from senior center fielder Erica Moore (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan).

Clinging to a slim lead, the Lady Raptors wrapped up the title with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, sparked by a leadoff single from Farrell. She advanced on a wild pitch and scored on an infield throwing error on a ball hit by junior catcher Mo Baney (Deptford, NJ/Deptford). One out later, sophomore second baseman Jayme Feriod (Glassboro, NJ/Glassboro) and junior shortstop Alaina Giles (Willingboro, NJ/Holy Cross) drew back-to-back walks and Van Cleef poked a run-scoring single to center. Junior right fielder Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional) followed by hitting into a fielder's choice. Feriod scored on the play and Giles came all the way around to score on an infield throwing error in the attempt to get Millett on a double play.

Schlichtig hurled a seven--hitter, allowing two earned runs and three walks. She struck out four while raising her record to 25-3.

Ramapo junior starter Marissa Marino (Wayne, NJ/Wayne) took the loss, working 1/3 of an inning, allowing one hit, one walk and two earned runs.

Dreitlein and Schlichtig had two hits apiece for Rutgers-Camden, while Moore had two hits for Ramapo.

Ramapo 7, Rutgers-Camden 2
The Roadrunners forced the winner-take-all game by overcoming a 2-0 deficit and handing Rutgers-Camden its first loss to a conference team all season long. The Roadrunners scored three runs in the fourth inning and four in the sixth to snap the Lady Raptors' school-record 29-game winning streak.

Ramapo took the lead for good in the third inning, which started with a leadoff walk by Pollak. Following a throwing error on a ball hit by senior catcher Lisa Rizzo (Dumont, NJ/Dumont), the Roadrunners plated one run on an RBI single by sophomore third baseman Lauren Cascino (New Windsor, NY/Cornwall Central). After a ground out, a walk loaded the bases. Freshman pinch-hitter Mickey O'Conner (Madison, NJ/Madison) walked to force home the tying run and junior second baseman Ginny O'Brien (Emerson, NJ/Emerson) brought home the go-ahead run when she hit a foul sacrifice fly to right field.
The Roadrunners tacked on four runs in the sixth, aided by five hits and one error. The biggest hit of the inning was a three-run home run by Moore, extending her single-season school record to 14 homers. It was the fourth home run in four playoff games in Camden for Moore.

For the Roadrunners, Cascino and O'Brien each had two of the seven hits off Schlichtig, who saw her 19-game winning streak snapped. Schlichtig worked 5.1 innings, allowing five hits, seven runs (four earned) and four walks. She struck out four.

Rutgers-Camden scored single runs in the second and third innings to take its 2-0 lead. In the second, Farrell singled and scored on a double by sophomore designated player Amber Parker (Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken), which came within inches of clearing the top of the wall in right field for a home run. In the third, junior shortstop Alaina Giles (Willingboro, NJ/Holy Cross) singled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Dreitlein.

Van Cleef collected a pair of hits for the Lady Raptors.

Marino collected the win for the Roadrunners, working 4.1 innings and allowing five hits, three walks and two earned runs. She struck out one. Sophomore Katie Norton (Livingston, NJ/Mount St. Dominic) notched her second save of the season, working out of a jam in the fifth inning and working 2.2 shutout innings, allowing no hits or walks. She struck out one.

Rutgers-Camden advances to NJAC title game,
Ramapo fights back through losers' bracket to final

CAMDEN - The top-seeded Rutgers University-Camden Scarlet Raptors and the third-seeded Ramapo College Roadrunners will meet for the New Jersey Athletic Conference Softball Championship here Sunday, May 7, at 12 p.m. after both teams took different routes to the final in Saturday's action.

Rutgers-Camden (39-4) posted a 9-3 victory over Ramapo College in the winners' bracket final, but the Roadrunners battled back through the losers' bracket. After fifth-seeded Montclair State eliminated No. 2 Rowan, 1-0, Ramapo (31-10) bounced Montclair State with a 14-1 victory in a game called after six innings due to the mercy rule.

If Ramapo defeats Rutgers-Camden at noon Sunday, a winner-take-all game will follow for the NJAC championship.

Rutgers-Camden 9, Ramapo 3
In the winners' bracket final, senior Michelle Schlichtig (Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights) raised her record to 24-2 and junior right fielder Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional) went 3-for-3 with three runs, three RBIs and a long home run, to power the Lady Raptors to their 29th consecutive win.

The Raptors, ranked No. 4 nationally, scored one run in the second, two in the third and four in the fourth to build a 7-0 lead. The third inning was highlighted by a two-run double from junior third baseman Megan Farrell (Medford, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep). In the fourth, the Lady Raptors collected four hits, sparked by a one-out single from junior shortstop Alaina Giles (Willingboro, NJ/Holy Cross). With two outs, Millett and Schlichtig had back-to-back RB I singles. Sophomore first baseman Kathleen Dreitlein (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston) ended the explosion with a two-run home run to left, her fourth homer of the season and second in two NJAC tournament games.

Ramapo scored a pair of runs in the fifth inning, sparked by a leadoff single up the middle by sophomore right fielder Amanda Jones (Rutherford, NJ/Rutherford). One out later, senior center fielder Erica Moore (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) ripped a two-run home run to left field, extending her single-season school record to 12. The shot also ended Schlichtig's consecutive scoreless inning streak at 52, tied for the sixth-longest string in Division III history. It also ended her school-record shutout streak at six.

The Roadrunners added another run in the top of the sixth on a leadoff home run by sophomore third baseman Lauren Cascino (New Windsor, NY/Cornwall Central).

The Lady Raptors tacked on their final runs in the sixth on a bunt single by freshman center fielder Marissa Van Cleef (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) and a long home run to left by Millett, extending her career record to 22 round-trippers.

Schlichtig allowed 10 hits and three earned runs. She struck out six and didn't walk a batter. Senior left fielder Andrea Pastiglione (S. California, CA/Hunterdon), senior catcher Lisa Rizzo (Dumont, NJ/Dumont) and sophomore right fielder Amanda Jones (Rutherford, NJ/Rutherford) each had two hits for the Roadrunners.

For the Raptors, Millett and Van Cleef each had three hits off a pair of Roadrunner pitchers. Ramapo sophomore Katie Norton (Livingston, NJ/Mount St. Dominic) worked 3.2 innings, allowing eight hits, seven runs (six earned) and one walk as her record fell to 10-4.

Montclair State 1, Rowan 0
The fifth-seeded Red Hawks rode the three-hit shutout pitching of sophomore Carolyn McCrea (Wharton, NJ/Jefferson Township) and a solo home run by junior catcher Megan Tantum (Ewing, NJ/Ewing) as they eliminated second-seeded Rowan.

McCrea, 14-6, walked two and struck out five in recording her fourth shutout of the season.

Tantum, who had two of the three hits off losing pitcher Colleen Oswald (Sewell, NJ/Paulsboro), provided the only run of the game with a leadoff home run to left field in the fourth inning. It was her first home run of the season.

Oswald, 30-3, walked two and struck out seven.

Ramapo 14 Montclair State 1
The Roadrunners, who slugged five home runs in their win over Rowan Friday and two more against Rutgers-Camden in Saturday's opening game, continued their slugging ways in the top of the first inning of the losers' bracket final. Following a two-out single by junior designated player Becky Pollack (Branchville, NJ/High Point Regional), Rizzo launched her second home run of the weekend off Red Hawks senior starter Athanasia Totaro (Roseland, NJ/West Essex).

The game was stopped for nearly 20 minutes in the bottom of the first inning when Totaro, the Red Hawks' leadoff batter, fouled the ball into her face and had to be taken to the hospital. She was relieved on the mound by McCrea, who worked a pair of scoreless innings before the Roadrunners struck for five runs in the top of the fourth inning. Cascino and junior first baseman Beth Choma (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) opened the frame with singles and Cascino scored on a two-out error. After a single by Moore loaded the bases, Pastiglione drilled a grand slam to left field. It was the Roadrunners' second grand slam in two days, following one by Choma against Rowan Friday.

Ramapo continued its assault with a seven-run top of the sixth inning which featured two errors and five hits, including home runs by Moore - her school-record 13th of the season - and the first career four-bagger for junior left fielder Gemma Chalkley (West Milford, NJ/West Milford).

For the game, the Roadrunners had four home runs, giving them 11 round-trippers in three NJAC playoff games at Rutgers-Camden. Moore has one in each game.

Montclair State's lone run was a home run by Tantum leading off the fifth inning. It was her second homer of the day and second of the season.

The Roadrunners collected 12 hits off three Montclair State pitchers, including two apiece by Pollak and Cascino.

Ramapo junior Marissa Marino (Wayne, NJ/Wayne) hurled the complete game to raise her record to 11-4. She allowed five hits and the one earned run. She struck out four and didn't walk a batter.

Totaro (13-6), took the loss, working the one inning before she was injured. She allowed three hits and two earned runs.

Schlichtig hurls no-hitter, Roadrunners rip five homers
as Rutgers-Camden, Ramapo advance in NJAC tourney

CAMDEN - Rutgers University-Camden senior All-American Michelle Schlichtig (Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights) hurled a no-hitter and Ramapo College slammed five home runs as the Lady Raptors and the Roadrunners advanced to the winners' bracket final here May 5 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Softball Championship.

Schlichtig broke her own single-season record by hurling her 13th shutout during her fourth no-hitter of the year as the top-ranked Lady Raptors eliminated the defending NJAC champions, William Paterson University, 4-0, in the opening game of the day. Paterson had eliminated Rutgers-Camden last season in both the NJAC finals and the NCAA regional finals.

In the nightcap, third-ranked Ramapo ripped three home runs in the first inning, including a grand slam by junior first baseman Beth Choma (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) to topple second-seeded Rowan University, 12-1. The game was called after five innings due to the eight-run mercy rule.

The other scheduled game in the losers' bracket wasn't played as The College of New Jersey withdrew from the tournament on Thursday, allowing Montclair State University to advance to Saturday's action.

On Saturday, Rutgers-Camden (38-4) will face Ramapo College (30-9) in the winners' bracket final at 11 a.m. Rowan (38-4) will play Montclair State (28-11) at 1:30 p.m. The third game of the day, at 4 p.m., will pit the Rutgers-Camden/Ramapo loser against the survivor of the Rowan/Montclair State game.

Rutgers-Camden 4, William Paterson 0
In the first game of the day, Schlichtig hurled her fourth no-hitter of the season, barely missing her third perfect game when she walked freshman pinch-hitter Tina Londino (Gloucester City, NJ/Gloucester City) with two outs in the sixth inning. Schlichtig struck out 12 in raising her record to 23-2 and extending her school-record consecutive scoreless inning streak to 47.2.

In addition to setting a new single-season shutout mark, she also hurled her sixth straight shutout, passing the old record of five consecutive shutouts by Becky Johnson in 2004.

The Lady Raptors, who have won 28 straight games and are ranked No. 4 nationally, scored the only run Schlichtig needed in the second inning off William Paterson senior Jenn Scott (Mt. Ephraim, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep). With one out, junior third baseman Megan Farrell (Medford, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) drew a walk and advanced on a pair of wild pitches. She was squeezed home by junior catcher Mo Baney (Deptford, NJ/Deptford).

Rutgers-Camden struck for two runs in the fifth inning following a leadoff single by junior right fielder Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional). One out later, sophomore first baseman Kathleen Dreitlein (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston) ripped a two-run home run, her third round-tripper of the season.

Millett added a solo home run leading off the seventh inning. It was her sixth of the season and extended her school career record to 21.

For the game, Millett went 3-for-3 with two runs and one RBI.

Ramapo College 12, Rowan University 1
The Roadrunners didn't waste any time taking charge of their NJAC tournament game. In the bottom of the first inning, senior center fielder Erica Moore (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) launched a leadoff home run to left center to extend her program single-season record to 11. The next batter, senior left fielder Andrea Pastiglione (S. California, CA/Hunterdon) added another home run to the same location off Profs senior ace Colleen Oswald (Sewell, NJ/Paulsboro).

Ramapo was just getting started offensively. Junior designated player Becky Pollak (Branchville, NJ/High Point Regional) followed with a double, senior catcher Lisa Rizzo (Dumont, NJ/Dumont) drew a walk and sophomore third baseman Lauren Cascino (New Windsor, NY/Cornwall Central) loaded the bases with a single to left. Choma, the sixth batter of the inning, cleared the bases with a grand slam to right-center field, her fifth home run of the season.

The Roadrunners added five more runs in the second inning on four hits, including a three-run homer by Rizzo and a two-run shot by junior shortstop Michele Rossi (Emerson, NJ/Emerson).

Choma added an RBI single in the fourth inning and finished the day 3-for-3 with two runs and five RBIs. Pastiglione and Cascino each had two of the Roadrunners' 11 hits, while Rizzo had three RBIs and Rossi added two.

Rowan scored its lone run in the third when the Profs collected three of their four hits off winning pitcher Marissa Marino (Wayne, NJ/Wayne). Rowan junior first baseman Jamie Assini (Deptford, NJ/East Brunswick) plated the run with a single to left.

Marino (11-4) hurled a four-hitter, allowing one earned run and two walks. She struck out one.

Oswald, who dips to 30-2, worked 1.1 innings, allowing seven hits, two walks and nine earned runs. She fanned one.

Raptors' Schlichtig adds honor
as ECAC Metro Pitcher of the Week

CAMDEN - Two days after winning her fourth honor of the season as the New Jersey Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week, Rutgers-Camden senior All-American Michelle Schlichtig (Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights) was named the ECAC Metro Division III Pitcher of the Week May 3.

The honor marks the third time this spring that Schlichtig has earned the ECAC Metro weekly award. She also won the honor on March 28 and April 18. In addition, Schlichtig was named both the NJAC and ECAC Metro Player of the Week on March 20 and 21, respectively.

Schlichtig turned in another stellar week last week, going 6-0 with a spotless 0.00 ERA in 30.1 innings. She set a Rutgers-Camden program record by stretching her scoreless innings streak to 33.2, snapping the mark of 33 consecutive scoreless innings shared by three pitchers.

Schlichtig, who also earned NJAC Pitcher of the Week honors on March 27, April 3 and April 17, started the week with a perfect game against New Jersey City University, her second perfect game and third no-hitter of the season. She ended the week with a three-hit shutout against Rutgers-Newark, striking out 15. It was her fourth consecutive shutout, one shy of the program record set by Becky Johnson in 2004.

On Tuesday night in the Lady Raptors' first NJAC Softball Championship game, Schlichtig continued her roll, tossing another shutout to tie Johnson's consecutive shutout record and extend her consecutive scoreless inning streak to 40.2. She defeated The College of New Jersey, 6-0, on a one-hitter. The shutout also allowed Schlichtig to tie her own school single-season record of 12, set in 2005.

For the season, Schlichtig owns a 22-2 record and a 0.84 ERA. She has struck out 227 batters in 149.1 innings.

The Lady Raptors will host defending NJAC champion William Paterson University Friday at 1:30 p.m. in their next conference tournament game.

Rutgers-Camden sets new victory records
as Schlichtig hurls one-hitter in NJAC tourney opener

CAMDEN -Senior All-American Michelle Schlichtig (Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights) hurled a one-hit shutout and Rutgers University-Camden set new program records for most wins in a season and most consecutive wins as the Lady Raptors defeated The College of New Jersey, 6-0, in the opening round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference Softball Championship here May 2.

With the victory, the top-seeded Raptors improve to 37-4, passing the old school mark of 36 wins set in 2004. They also have won 27 consecutive games, one more than the mark set last season. TCNJ, the sixth seed, falls to 25-16.

In other first-round games played on campus sites, #2 Rowan University defeated #5 Montclair State University, 9-5, and #3 Ramapo College edged #4 William Paterson University, the defending NJAC champion, 4-3.

The remainder of the double-elimination tournament will be played at Rutgers-Camden beginning Friday, when Montclair State faces TCNJ at 11 a.m., William Paterson plays Rutgers-Camden at 1:30 p.m. and Rowan battles Ramapo at 4 p.m.

Schlichtig raised her record to 22-2 with her one-hitter, walking two and striking out 11 as she raised her school-record consecutive scoreless inning streak to 40.2. It was her fifth consecutive shutout, tying the program mark set by Becky Johnson in 2004, and Schlichtig's 12th shutout on the season, tying her own single-season mark set last year.

Schlichtig allowed only a two-out double in the second inning by sophomore right fielder Christina Lizzi (Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo).

The Lady Raptors broke the game open with a four-run third inning off TCNJ junior starter Julianne Lajiness (Monroe Township, NJ/Notre Dame). The frame was sparked when sophomore second baseman Jayme Feriod (Glassboro, NJ/Glassboro) beat out an infield single and advanced on a throwing error. She moved to third on a grounder to second base by junior shortstop Alaina Giles (Willingboro, NJ/Holy Cross) and scored on an infield single by freshman center fielder Marissa Van Cleef (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough). One out later, the Lady Raptors loaded the bases on a single by Schlichtig and a walk to sophomore first baseman Kathleen Dreitlein (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston). The bases were cleared a moment later when junior third baseman Megan Farrell (Medford, NJ/Bishop Eustace) ripped a three-run double to left field, extending her hitting streak to 13 games, the longest on the team this season.

Rutgers-Camden added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning after sophomore designated player Amber Parker (Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken) singled to right field and advanced on a throwing error. One out later, Giles was hit by a pitch and Van Cleef singled to load the bases. Two runs scored on a double to left center field by junior right fielder Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional).

For the game, Van Cleef went 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI. Farrell had three RBIs, while Millett added two.

Schlichtig, Van Cleef
earn NJAC pitching honors

CAMDEN - Rutgers University-Camden senior All-American Michelle Schlichtig (Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights) captured her fourth honor as the NJAC Pitcher of the Week and freshman Marissa Van Cleef (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) became the second Lady Raptor to earn Rookie Pitcher of the Week honors when the conference announced its weekly awards May 1.

Michelle Schlichtig

Schlichtig turned in another stellar week, going 6-0 with a spotless 0.00 ERA in 30.1 innings. She set a Rutgers-Camden program record by stretching her scoreless innings streak to 33.2, snapping the mark of 33 consecutive scoreless innings shared by three pitchers.

Schlichtig, who also earned NJAC Pitcher of the Week honors on March 27, April 3 and April 17, started the week with a perfect game against New Jersey City University, her second perfect game and third no-hitter of the season. She ended the week with a three-hit shutout against Rutgers-Newark, striking out 15. It was her fourth consecutive shutout, one shy of the program record set by Becky Johnson in 2004.

For the season, Schlichtig owns a 21-2 record and a 0.89 ERA. She has struck out 216 batters in 142.1 innings. She also owns 11 shutouts, one shy of her own program record set last season.

Van Cleef, meanwhile, threw 8.2 shutout innings of her own last week, allowing six hits and one walk in two outings. She struck out four, but didn't get a decision in a pair of Rutgers-Camden wins. For the season, Van Cleef has pitched in four games, working 18.2 innings with a 0-1 record and a 1.12 ERA.

Marissa Van Cleef

The award gives Van Cleef a unique double NJAC honor this season. On March 7, she was named the NJAC Rookie of the Week for her play as the Raptors' center fielder and leadoff batter. She has fashioned a .287 average with 30 runs, 11 RBIs, three doubles and seven stolen bases.

The honors for Schlichtig and Van Cleef are the latest in a long line of awards for Rutgers-Camden softball players this season. On April 17, sophomore first baseman Kathleen Dreitlein (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston) was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Player of the Week in addition to Schlichtig's honor. Both earned similar honors the next day as the ECAC Metro Division III Player and Pitcher of the Week. Schlichtig also won ECAC Metro Pitcher of the Week honors on March 28. She also was named the NJAC Player of the Week and the ECAC Metro Player of the Week March 20 and 21, respectively.

In addition to Schlichtig and Dreitlein, the Raptors captured three of the four NJAC awards on March 7 as sophomore second baseman Jayme Feriod (Glassboro, NJ/Glassboro) was named the NJAC Player of the Week, Van Cleef captured NJAC Rookie of the Week honors and freshman Natalie Powell (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) was cited as the NJAC's Rookie Pitcher of the Week. The Lady Raptors also were honored March 27 when freshman Mandi Moore (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddon Township) was named NJAC Rookie Player of the Week.

Farrell helps Lady Raptors
finish perfect NJAC regular season

CAMDEN - Junior Megan Farrell (Marlton, NJ/Bishop Eustace) fired a one-hit shutout in the nightcap and finished her big day at the plate going 3-for-6 with two runs and five RBIs to help the No. 4-ranked Rutgers University-Camden softball team complete a sweep through the New Jersey Athletic Conference regular season here April 29.

The Lady Raptors defeated Rutgers-Newark, 6-0 and 9-0 (six innings), as they finished the regular season with a record of 36-4 overall and an 18-0 mark in the NJAC. They become the first team since the 2003 Ramapo College squad to sweep through the NJAC regular-season undefeated.

The double wins also allowed the Lady Raptors to tie a pair of program records. Rutgers-Camden's 36th victory tied the school record set in 2004. The Lady Raptors have won their last 26 games, tying for the program's longest winning streak, set last season.

Rutgers-Camden could set new records in both categories Tuesday when it opens play in the NJAC Championships. The top-seeded Lady Raptors host The College of New Jersey at 6 p.m.

Rutgers-Newark closes its season at 18-22 overall and 3-15 in the NJAC.

In a Senior Day doubleheader when the Lady Raptors honored their lone graduating player, Michelle Schlichtig (Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights), the All-American pitcher turned in a three-hit shutout in the opening game. She struck out 15, tying her season high, and walked only one batter.