Galloway, N.J. – Seven members of the Stockton University softball team qualified for
Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. The awards are given to any player who achieved a minimum 3.50 grade point average during the 2020-21 academic year. The seven Ospreys were among 2,375 Division III players who qualified.
A trio of seniors in
Angie Dunphy (Hainesport/Rancocas Valley),
Caitlin Hughes (Forked River/Lacey Twp.) and
Meg Murzello (Maple Shade/Holy Cross) all qualified as NFCA All-America Scholar Athletes in their final season at Stockton.
Sophomore
Vanessa Tancini (Levittown, Pa./Harry S. Truman) earned NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete status, as did freshmen
Megan Dignam (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy),
Brittany Rifenburg (Spotswood/Spotswood) and
Stevie Unger (Tower City, Pa./Williams Valley).
The seven players helped Stockton win 10 games, including eight in conference play, and advance to the semifinal round of the NJAC Tournament during the shortened Spring 2021 season. Murzello led the league in stolen bases (19) and finished fifth in runs (25) on the way to NJAC First Team and NFCA East Region Third Team nods.
Dunphy batted .347 and was voted NJAC Second Team. Unger led the pitching staff with 33 strikeouts in 52 innings pitched while Tancini and Dignam made 24 and 22 starts respectively during the 28-game campaign. Rifenburg ripped two doubles and Hughes knocked one double as the duo primarily saw action off the bench.