NUTLEY – Emily Holden pitched a one-hitter, striking out seven and walking two, to lead the second-seeded Nutley High School varsity softball team to a 5-1 win over seventh-seeded Matawan in the quarterfinals of the state North Jersey Section 2, Group 3 tournament at Yanticaw Park on May 25.
Breanna DeMaio went 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI and Stefanie Ziemer went 3-for-4 with three runs scored for NHS.
The Raiders, who improved to a 23-5 record, will host third-seeded Middletown South in the semifinals on May 31. The final is June 3. Middletown South is the defending Group 3 state champion.
NHS head coach Luann Zullo earned her 400th career win in the 9-4 victory over Sayreville in a regular-season game on May 20.