New Jersey City University Athletics

 

JERSEY CITY, NJ…Sophomore right-hander ANDREA DELUCREZIA (Belleville, NJ/St. Mary’s-Rutherford) gave herself a pitching victory win a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning in game one, and junior shortstop SUSIE MATSUTANI (Gallup, NM/Gallup) provided all the offense New Jersey City University would need in game two with a two-run double, as the Gothic Knights swept a non-conference softball doubleheader from Centenary College, 5-4 and 2-1, at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.

 

With the wins, NJCU improves to 4-8 overall while Centenary, which was playing its first games of the season, is 0-2. NJCU leads the all-time series, which began in 1981, 13-11-1.

 

Freshman centerfielder CHRISTINA PROSPERO (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) went 2-for-3 with a double in each game of the doubleheader while Delucrezia combined to finish 4-for-7 overall.

 

************************GAME 1: NJCU 5, Centenary College 4 ************************

With Centenary College leading 4-3 in the top of the sixth inning of the opening game, a very unique play determined the outcome of the contest. Sophomore designated player Megan Dunne (Frenchtown, NJ/Delaware Valley Regional) lofted her second homerun of the game over the fence in straightaway centerfield and appeared to have given the Cyclones a 5-3 lead. But Dunne never touched home plate after rounding the bases and was called out at home after returning to the dugout once junior catcher VANESSA NICOLICH (Cliffside Park, NJ/St. Mary’s-Rutherford) tagged home plate.

 

In game one, Delucrezia was 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI and Prospero was 2-for-3. Freshman third baseman CHRISTEN HALL (East Rutherford, NJ/Becton Regional) was 1-for-3 with two RBIs, and freshman designated player KRYSTINA KINGSTON (Mountainside, NJ/Governor Livingston) scored twice.

 

Dunne was 3-for-3 with two runs and one RBI for Centenary, finishing with a homerun and a triple on the decisive base-running play. Junior third baseman Lauren Cassoff (Manahawkin, NJ/Southern Regional) also had a solo homerun.

 

Delucrezia improved to 2-4 on the mound this season. In seven innings, she allowed two earned runs (four total) and seven hits with three strikeouts and five walks. Senior Michelle Hendry (Dover, NJ/Dover) took the loss, allowing one earned run (five total) and nine hits with four strikeouts and two walks over 6.1 innings.

 

After Dunne gave Centenary a 1-0 lead in the second, NJCU scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the third, as Hall lifted a two-run double after a Cyclone error extended the inning. Centenary jumped ahead 4-3 with four runs in the top of the fourth. Cassoff led off with a homer, and her team added two unearned runs.

 

After the base-running mistake in the top of the sixth, NJCU tied the game at 4-4 when Delucrezia doubled, and later scored on a dropped fly ball. With Kingston on second in the seventh inning after a fielder’s choice and walk, Delucrezia gave herself a win with the decisive single through the right side.

 

************************GAME 2: NJCU 2, Centenary College 1 ************************

Both teams received solid pitching performances in game two, but it was NJCU freshman right-hander REANNON TROGDON (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown Regional) earning the win. In seven complete innings she allowed no earned runs (one total) and scattered four hits, all from the fourth inning on. She added five strikeouts and four walks, improving to 2-4 overall.

 

Senior Megan Doucette (Manahawkin, NJ/Southern Regional) took the loss (0-1), despite not allowing an earned run (two total) and four hits, with one strikeout and three walks in four innings. Hendry allowed just two hits in the final two innings of relief.

 

After an error extended the fourth inning, Matsutani, who was 1-for-4 in the game, belted a two-run double to left-center, scoring Delucrezia and freshman first baseman TARA PERRUCCI (Wallington, NJ/Wallington) for a 2-0 lead.

 

Delucrezia was 2-for-3 with one run, while Prospero went 2-for-3. No Centenary players had multiple hits. The Cyclones left the bases loaded in the fourth inning. The only Centenary run came on a fifth-inning RBI single by senior leftfielder Dairomy Bolano (Paterson, NJ/Paterson Catholic).