Rutgers-Camden Sports Information

UNION, N.J. (May 10, 2009) - Rutgers University-Camden bounced back from a loss earlier in the day to rally past Montclair State University, 6-4, as the Lady Raptors won the 2009 ECAC Division III Metro Softball Championship at Kean University Sunday. It was the first ECAC Metro title for the Lady Raptors, who finished their season at 26-19.

Montclair State (29-18), which survived the losers' bracket final with a 6-2 win over Richard Stockton College in Sunday's first game, also knocked off Rutgers-Camden, 4-2, to force the winner-take-all final in the double-elimination event.

In the final game, the Lady Raptors rallied from a 3-1 deficit to capture their second post-season championship in four years. Winning pitcher Natalie Powell (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown), who was a freshman when the Lady Raptors won the NCAA Division III championship in 2006, ended her stellar Rutgers-Camden career with a complete game victory in the ECAC Metro title game. She was named the Most Valuable Player of the ECAC Metro Championship.

Rutgers-Camden 6, Montclair State 4

The Lady Raptors scored three runs in a controversial top of the sixth inning to break a 3-3 tie. With runners on second and third base and no outs, Rutgers-Camden appeared to go ahead when freshman catcher Erika Drayton (Blackwood, NJ/Triton Regional) reached on an error and junior third baseman Steph Skroski (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) scored. After a 40-minute delay caused by a Montclair State protest, Drayton was called out for using an illegal bat, and Skroski and junior Amanda D'Anduono (Lanoka Harbor, NJ/Lacey Township) returned to third and second base, respectively.

Two batters later, freshman Vicki D'Anduono (Lanoka Harbor, NJ/Lacey Township) ripped a two-run single to right field, plating both Skroski and her sister Amanda. Vicki D'Anduono eventually scored on a single by senior Angie Arpino (Somerdale, NJ/Sterling).

Montclair State got one run back in the bottom of the seventh on a RBI single by Megan Durkin (West Orange, NJ/West Orange), but Powell nailed down the victory on a ground out to second baseman Brooke Keenan (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape). Powell, who hurled all 34 innings in the Lady Raptors' five ECAC Metro games May 6-10, scattered 10 hits in the title game, allowing four runs (three earned) and three walks. She struck out one as she finished her season with a 17-12 record and a 1.88 ERA.

Rutgers-Camden scored a third-inning run following a leadoff infield single by Vicki D'Anduono. She scored on a double by freshman shortstop Beth Speakman (Sicklerville, NJ/Timber Creek).

Montclair State bounced back with three in the bottom of the frame, with two coming on a home run to right-center field by Shannon Mozek (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley).

Rutgers-Camden bounced right back to tie the game with two runs in the fourth, sparked by a leadoff single from Skroski. Following a sacrifice by Amanda D'Anduono and a single by Drayton, junior center fielder Nikki DiVece (Pine Hill, NJ/Overbrook Regional) reached on an error. Vicki D'Anduono, who went 3-for-3 in the game, singled home one run and Angie Arpino tied the game with a sacrifice fly to left field.

In addition to three hits by Vicki D'Anduono, Speakman and Skroski each had two hits for the Raptors. Vicki D'Anduono had three RBIs, while Arpino added two.

 For Montclair State, junior Kelly Nance (Marlboro, NJ/Marlboro) went 3-for-3 with one run scored, while Mozek finished 2-for-4. 

2009 ECAC Division III Metro Softball Championship

First Round - Wednesday, May 6

No. 7 SUNY Purchase (17-13) at No. 2 Montclair State (25-16) Box Score  Game Story
No. 6 SUNY Old Westbury 0 at No. 3 Richard Stockton 5  Box Score  Game Story
No. 5 USMMA, 2 at No. 4 Rutgers-Camden, 6 Box Score  Game Story


Double Elimination (Day 1) - Saturday, May 9, 2009

Game 1: Kean University 3 vs. No. 4 Rutgers-Camden 5 Box Score  Game Story
Game 2: No. 2 Montclair State 7 vs. No. 3 Richard Stockton 3 Box Score  Game Story
Game 3: Kean University 4 vs. Richard Stockton 11 Box Score  Game Story
Game 4: Rutgers-Camden 3 vs. Montclair State 2  Box Score  Game Story

Championship (Day 2) - Sunday, May 10, 2009

Game 5: Montclair State 6 vs. Richard Stockton 2 Box Score  Game Story
Game 6: Montclair State 4 vs. Rutgers-Camden 2 Box Score  Game Story
Game 7 (if necessary): Montclair State 4 vs. Rutgers-Camden 6 Box Score  Game Story

Complete Bracket