New Jersey City University Athletics

 

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ…New Jersey City University freshman right-hander ANDREA DELUCREZIA (Belleville, NJ/St. Mary’s-Rutherford), who earlier in the day was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie Pitcher of the Week, backed up that selection with the best performance of her career, tossing a complete-game three-hit shutout, while striking out nine, as the Gothic Knights blanked Centenary College, 3-0, in the opening game of a non-conference road doubleheader.

               

In the nightcap, NJCU led 3-1 in the second inning before Centenary tied it in the third and scored the winning run on an error in the bottom of the sixth, as the Cyclones prevailed, 4-3. The game was called after six innings due to darkness.               

 

With the doubleheader split, NJCU improves to 5-8 on the season, while Centenary is 3-6.

 

               

In game one, Delucrezia was brilliant, taking a no-hitter one out into the fifth inning, before finishing with just three singles against. She fanned a career-high nine batters, and walked only one in the shutout. She faced only four batters over the minimum in the game.

               

Sophomore shortstop SUSIE MATSUTANI (Gallup, NM/Gallup) led NJCU offensively with a 3-for-4 showing and one run. Delucrezia finished 2-for-3 with one RBI and a double.

               

NJCU received all the offense it would need in the first inning, as senior second baseman KRISTY SKOWRONSKI (Bayonne, NJ/Holy Family Academy) led off with a single, stole second, and scored when senior leftfielder ERIKA CUBILE (Jersey City, NJ/Academy of Saint Aloysius) reached on an error. Cubile later came in with NJCU’s second run on an RBI single by Matsutani.

NJCU added an additional run in the third, when Matsutani singled and scored on an RBI double by Delucrezia.

Junior Michelle Hendry (Dover, NJ/Dover) took the loss for Centenary. In seven innings, she allowed two earned runs, with six hits, two strikeouts and no walks.

 

Delucrezia pitched well in the nightcap as well, allowing just six singles and three earned runs, with five strikeouts and two walks. Hendry was the winner for Centenary, allowing two earned runs, with two K’s and one walk. Junior third baseman VANESSA SOLARES (Palisades Park, NJ/Palisades Park) was NJCU’s only player with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-3 with one run.

 

CC scored first on an RBI single by junior catcher Megan Doucette (Mayetta, NJ/Southern Regional). The Knights moved in front 3-1 after the second inning. Sophomore catcher VANESSA NICOLICH (Cliffside Park, NJ/St. Mary’s-Rutherford) tied the game with an RBI fielder’s choice. Centenary committed two errors in the frame, and the Knights scored twice when sophomore center fielder MELINA VEINTIMILLA (Forked River, NJ/Academy of St. Aloysius) reached on the second miscue of the inning.

 

The Cyclones evened the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the third. An RBI double by sophomore centerfielder Jessa Jones (South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) made it 3-2, and she tied the game when she came home on a single by junior designated player Michelle Henderson (Lakewood, NJ/Lakewood).

 

NJCU had a chance to move ahead in the fourth, but left the bases loaded. In the bottom of the sixth, the Cyclones put themselves in position to win. Doucette led off with a single. Senior Keiko Okabe (Kanagawa-Ken, Japan) pinch ran, advanced to second on a passed ball, stole third, and scored on a missed catch.

 

NJCU will visit Lehman College in the Bronx, NY on Wednesday, March 29 at 3 p.m. for a non-conference doubleheader.