JERSEY CITY, NJ…FDU-Florham scored 10 times in the third inning and seven times in the fourth in game one, and limited New Jersey City University to two hits in the nightcap, as the Devils swept a non-conference doubleheader from NJCU, 24-4 in five innings and 8-0 in six innings, Monday at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.
FDU improves to 16-12 on the season with its fourth straight win, while the Gothic Knights (9-20) lose for the 12th consecutive game. FDU leads the all-time series 19-5, with nine straight wins.
Senior first baseman Amanda Morrison (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) was the biggest offensive star of the day, combining to finish 5-for-9 with four RBIs and four runs
Sophomore right-hander Kristin Loriot (Howell, NJ/Howell) tossed a two-hit shutout in game two with six strikeouts and one walk, after going 2-for-3 with two runs as a second baseman in the opener.
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GAME 1: 04/17/2006 at Jersey City, NJ
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FDU-Florham......... 23(10) 72 - 24 19 2 (15-12)
New Jersey City Univ 300 01 - 4 7 7 (9-19)
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WP-Hartnett (8-5) LP-V. Nicolich (0-4) T-1:32 A-34
In game one, 16 FDU players saw the field, as the Devils scored 24 times on 19 hits, and were aided by seven NJCU errors. The Gothic Knights led 3-2 after the first inning, but FDU scored in every inning to seize control. The Devils scored 17 runs over the third and fourth innings to invoke the eight-run rule after five innings. Six FDU players had multiple hits, five had multiple runs, and seven scored at least twice. FDU sent 15 batters to the plate in the third inning and 10 in the fourth.
Morrison led the way, going 3-for-5 with three runs, two RBIs and a triple. Sophomore catcher Kelly Nover (Lindenhurst, NY/Lindenhurst) and Loriot were each 2-for-3 with two runs. Junior third baseman Kristen Olah (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex), senior shortstop Jess Cunningham (Roselle, NJ/Abraham Clark) and sophomore leftfielder Amanda Cusumano (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) each scored three times, while Olah and Cusumano each added two RBIs. Sophomore designated player/third baseman Tara Hulse (Brick, NJ/Monsignor Donovan) was 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs.
Also for FDU, freshman catcher Jess Mantz (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North) had two RBIs and a run in a 1-for-2 reserve showing. Sophomore rightfielder Kim Anderson (Lincroft, NJ/Middletown South) came off the bench to go 2-for-2. FDU tallied four doubles in the contest.
Sophomore right-hander Julie Hartnett (Riverton, NJ/Palmyra) improved to 8-5 on the season, allowing two earned runs (four total) and seven hits in 5.0 innings, with four strikeouts and two walks.
Senior catcher
LISA ASHBURN (Jersey City, NJ/Snyder) was NJCU’s lone standout, going 3-for-3 with one run and one RBI. Sophomore catcher/pitcher
VANESSA NICOLICH (Cliffside Park, NJ/St. Mary’s-Rutherford) took the loss, falling to 0-4 on the season. Sophomore shortstop
SUSIE MATSUTANI (Gallup, NM/Gallup) made her first career pitching appearance in relief, and allowed just a lone walk in one inning.
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GAME 2: 04/17/2006 at Jersey City, NJ
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FDU-Florham......... 040 013 - 8 6 1 (16-12)
New Jersey City Univ 000 000 - 0 2 3 (9-20)
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WP-Loriot (2-0) LP-S. Matsutani (0-1) T-1:17 A-46
In game two, FDU received a dominant pitching performance from Loriot, and put the game away, scoring four runs in the second and three in the sixth innings.
Matsutani made her first pitching start for NJCU, and allowed only six hits, including five singles. In 6.0 innings, she allowed seven earned runs (eight total) with two K’s and five walks.
Morrison led FDU with two RBIs in a 2-for-4, one RBI showing. Freshman centerfielder Jen Haas (Waterford, NJ/Hammonton) had two RBIs on a double in her only plate appearance off the bench.
FDU scored all the runs it would need in the second inning. The go-ahead runs crossed the plate
on an error, while the Devils added runs on a hit by pitch, walk, and sacrifice fly. FDU went ahead 5-0 on another error in the fifth.
In the sixth, Haas put FDU ahead 7-0 with a two-run, two-run pinch-hit double, and a RBI single by Morrison provided enough offense to enforce the eight-run rule.
NJCU returns to action on Tuesday, April 18 at 3 p.m. in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game at Montclair State University in Little Falls, NJ. FDU next plays on April 22 at Delaware Valley College.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
