New Jersey City University Athletics

 

JERSEY CITY, NJ…Freshman second baseman LACEY SKOWRONSKI (Bayonne, NJ/Holy Family Academy) lofted a walk-off, three-run homerun with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning as New Jersey City University rallied with four runs in their last at-bat to defeat the College of Staten Island, 8-7, in a non-conference game at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.

 

NJCU improves to 11-24 overall, snapping a six-game losing streak. Staten Island, which had entered the game winners of 13 of their last 14, falls to 22-10. It was the third meeting of the year between the schools; CSI swept a doubleheader in Staten Island on March 25.

 

The homerun for Skowronski was the first by any NJCU player this year. NJCU’s last homerun came on April 11, 2006 against Ramapo College.

 

Skowronski finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs and one run, while junior shortstop SUSIE MATSUTANI (Gallup, NM/Gallup) was 3-for-4 with three runs, one RBI, a double and a triple.

 

Freshman REANNON TROGDON (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown Regional) started the game at first base, and offensively went 1-for-4 with two RBIs. But her most valuable contribution was on the mound. In relief, she pitched three perfect innings, retiring all nine batters she faced, with four strikeouts, to earn the win (5-13).

 

Also for NJCU, junior catcher VANESSA NICOLICH (Cliffside Park, NJ/St. Mary’s (Rutherford)) was 2-for-3 with one run. Sophomore right-hander ANDREA DELUCREZIA (Belleville, NJ/St. Mary’s (Rutherford)) started, and was credited with a no-decision. In four innings, she fanned five, walking only two, while allowing five earned runs and nine hits.

 

Before the game, NJCU honored its lone senior, rightfielder VANESSA SOLARES (Palisades Park, NJ/Palisades Park), as the Knights were playing their final home game of the season.

 

For CSI, sophomore shortstop Nicole Estrada (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Kearney) was 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI, and senior second baseman Brianne Russo (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) finished 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI. Freshman first baseman Stefanie Allen (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) was 1-for-4 with two RBIs.

 

Sophomore Kari Drew Varriale (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) suffered her first loss of the year (4-1), allowing four earned runs and four hits in 4.2 innings of relief, fanning three and walking two. Senior Christina D’Arpa (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) left with an injury after two innings with the game knotted at 4-4. She allowed three earned runs and five hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

CSI jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. After a dropped foul ball extended the inning, the Dolphins took advantage. Allen tallied a two-run double to right center, and after a sacrifice fly made it 3-0, Estrada had a two-out RBI double.

 

SUSIE MATSUTANI" src="/images/softball/2007/4/26/03-26-07%20Susie%20Matsutani%2014.JPG" width=150 align=left border=0>NJCU got one run back in the bottom of the first when Matsutani led off with a triple, and scored on an RBI single by Skowronski after the Knights’ had their inning extended due to a passed ball.

 

NJCU tied the game at 4-4 with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Matsutani singled to score Nicolich who led off with a hit. Trogdon lifted a two-out, two-RBI double down the right field line to score Matsutani and Solares with the tying runs.

 

CSI collected three runs in the top of the fourth to seemingly take control of the contest. Junior centerfielder Michele Mazza (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic), D’Arpa, and Russo all had RBI singles during the frame.

 

CSI maintained a 7-4 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh. Matsutani led off with a double, and moved to third on a wild pitch, but remained on the corner with two outs. After sophomore outfielder ROXY ARISTY (West New York, NJ/St. Joseph’s of the Palisades) drew a four-pitch walk, freshman third baseman CHRISTEN HALL (East Rutherford, NJ/Becton Regional) doubled to right-center to score Matsutani and make it 7-5. Up to the plate stepped Skowronski, and she drilled a 1-0 pitch over the right-center field fence to win it for NJCU.

 

The Knights will play their final New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader of the season on Saturday, April 28 at 1 p.m. when they visit Richard Stockton College in Pomona, NJ. CSI visits Kean University on April 27 for a 3:30 p.m. doubleheader.