Rutgers accepts bid to National Invitational Softball Championships

Despite a disappointing loss in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament, the Rutgers softball team’s turnaround season continues. On Sunday night, the Scarlet Knights accepted a bid to play in the National Invitational Softball Championships (NISC). They’ll head to the double elimination, Liberty Regional in Lynchburg, Virginia. The teams playing at this regional in addition to Rutgers (28-24) and host Liberty (37-20) are Appalachian State (31-23), George Washington (42-16), Marshall (29-20) and Kent State (27-24). Rutgers will open play against Appalachian State on Thursday, May 16th.

There are four regionals and the winners of each will meet in the Championship round in Fort Collins, Colorado on May 24th-26th. Other high major teams competing in the NISC are Purdue, who beat Rutgers in the Big Ten tournament, and Iowa State.

This is the third year of the NISC and the first appearance for Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights are led offensively by Jess Hughes (.358 BA, 1.096 OPS, 10 HR, 39 RBI, 47 Runs), Anyssa Iliopoulos (.324 BA, 1.112 OPS, 12 HR, 41 RBI, 35 Runs), and Katie Wingert (.316 BA, 1.111 OPS, 17 HR, 44 RBI, 31 Runs) and on the mound by Corah Price (16-10, 2.92 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 113 K, 41 BB, 11 CG).