Softball Adds Hughes to 2018 Roster
Jul 24 | Softball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers softball welcomes Jessica Hughes to the roster, head coach Jay Nelson announced Monday. Hughes, a transfer from Fordham, will join the Scarlet Knights for the 2018 season.
"It's with great pleasure that I welcome Jessica to the Scarlet Knight softball family," said Nelson. "She is a humble athlete that praises her teammates and works to be the best every time she takes the field. She is also a very talented player from our home state.
"Jessica has extensive collegiate experience reaching the NCAA regional tournament twice. She is a great hitter that bats in the top of the lineup and is a very athletic middle infielder that will help solidify our defense. Her credentials and honors both in high school and college are numerous and we are glad she decided to join us."
Hughes is coming off a stellar sophomore season with the Rams, posting a .370 batting average, .510 on-base percentage and .685 slugging percentage. The performance landed her First Team All-Atlantic 10, First Team NFCA All-Region, First Team All-ECAC, and CoSIDA Academic All-District. She also set school records for single-season runs scored (64), walks (53), and on-base percentage (.510).
The Sewell, New Jersey, native's second-year success was preceded by a rookie campaign that saw her named a top 25 finalist for NFCA Division I Freshman of the Year award. Hughes batted .352/.469/.445, while co-leading the team with 64 hits and pacing the squad with 56 runs. The leadoff also posted 21 RBIs, 36 steals, and three home runs. She garnered A-10 Rookie of the Year and First Team All-A-10, and was named to the A-10 All-Rookie squad for the performance. Additionally, she was selected to the ECAC Division I Second Team and the NFCA All-Region Third Team.
Prior to college, Hughes was a four-year varsity softball letterwinner at Washington Township High School. During her time there, she was named a 2015 Max Preps Softball All-American, after leading the Garden State with 68 hits, 24 doubles, 53 runs and 47 RBI out of the leadoff spot.
In 2014, she was named the South Jersey Times Player of the Year along with being tabbed as the Courier Post Player of the Year. Additionally, she was First Team All-Courier Post, First Team All-State by the Star-Ledger, First Team All-South Jersey Coaches Association, First Team All-Philadelphia Inquirer, and Team MVP in 2014. Overall, she was a three-time First Team All-Group 4 selection and First Team All-Olympic Conference member all while leading her squad to the three-straight South Jersey Group 4 titles. Off the field, she was a member of the National Honor Society, DECA and the Renaissance Club.
Follow Rutgers Softball on Twitter (@RUSoftball) and Instagram (@RU_Softball for all of the latest news and updates. The team is also on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersSB). For all Rutgers Athletics news follow us on Twitter (@RUAthletics), Instagram (@RUAthletics), Snapchat (@RUAthletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics).
"It's with great pleasure that I welcome Jessica to the Scarlet Knight softball family," said Nelson. "She is a humble athlete that praises her teammates and works to be the best every time she takes the field. She is also a very talented player from our home state.
"Jessica has extensive collegiate experience reaching the NCAA regional tournament twice. She is a great hitter that bats in the top of the lineup and is a very athletic middle infielder that will help solidify our defense. Her credentials and honors both in high school and college are numerous and we are glad she decided to join us."
Hughes is coming off a stellar sophomore season with the Rams, posting a .370 batting average, .510 on-base percentage and .685 slugging percentage. The performance landed her First Team All-Atlantic 10, First Team NFCA All-Region, First Team All-ECAC, and CoSIDA Academic All-District. She also set school records for single-season runs scored (64), walks (53), and on-base percentage (.510).
The Sewell, New Jersey, native's second-year success was preceded by a rookie campaign that saw her named a top 25 finalist for NFCA Division I Freshman of the Year award. Hughes batted .352/.469/.445, while co-leading the team with 64 hits and pacing the squad with 56 runs. The leadoff also posted 21 RBIs, 36 steals, and three home runs. She garnered A-10 Rookie of the Year and First Team All-A-10, and was named to the A-10 All-Rookie squad for the performance. Additionally, she was selected to the ECAC Division I Second Team and the NFCA All-Region Third Team.
Prior to college, Hughes was a four-year varsity softball letterwinner at Washington Township High School. During her time there, she was named a 2015 Max Preps Softball All-American, after leading the Garden State with 68 hits, 24 doubles, 53 runs and 47 RBI out of the leadoff spot.
In 2014, she was named the South Jersey Times Player of the Year along with being tabbed as the Courier Post Player of the Year. Additionally, she was First Team All-Courier Post, First Team All-State by the Star-Ledger, First Team All-South Jersey Coaches Association, First Team All-Philadelphia Inquirer, and Team MVP in 2014. Overall, she was a three-time First Team All-Group 4 selection and First Team All-Olympic Conference member all while leading her squad to the three-straight South Jersey Group 4 titles. Off the field, she was a member of the National Honor Society, DECA and the Renaissance Club.
Follow Rutgers Softball on Twitter (@RUSoftball) and Instagram (@RU_Softball for all of the latest news and updates. The team is also on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersSB). For all Rutgers Athletics news follow us on Twitter (@RUAthletics), Instagram (@RUAthletics), Snapchat (@RUAthletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics).
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