New Jersey City University Athletics

 

POMONA, NJ…Richard Stockton College clinched its first appearance in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament since 2000 by sweeping an NJAC softball doubleheader from New Jersey City University, 12-4 in five innings, and 11-2 in six innings on Saturday afternoon. It was the final NJAC regular season game for both schools.

 

Stockton improved to 24-12 overall and 9-9 NJAC with the sweep, while the Gothic Knights fell to 11-26 and 2-16 NJAC.

 

***********GAME 1: Richard Stockton 12, NJCU 4 (5 innings)***********

In the opener, freshman second baseman LACEY SKOWRONSKI (Bayonne, NJ/Holy Family Academy) was 1-for-2 with two RBIs, while junior shortstop SUSIE MATSUTANI (Gallup, NM/Gallup) finished 1-for-2 with two runs.

 

NJCU opened a 2-0 lead after the first inning and led 3-1 after the visitor’s third, before the Ospreys scored four runs in the bottom of the inning to take control of the game. NJCU added a single run in the top of the fourth to trim the Osprey lead to 5-4, before Stockton scored three runs in the fourth and four in the fifth to end the game.

 

Senior first baseman Melissa Kerr (Laurel Springs, NJ/Highland), who had three hits in each game, was Stockton’s top player, going 3-for-4 with one run, and senior second baseman Rianna Vanchure (Manchester, NJ/Manchester) went 3-for-3 with a triple and three runs. Junior leftfielder Barb Kutch (Mt. Holly, NJ/ Rancocas Valley) went 2-for-3 with two RBI for the Ospreys.

 

***********GAME 2: Richard Stockton 11, NJCU 2 (6 innings)***********

In the nightcap, Stockton jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. The Knights closed to within 3-1 after four innings, before the Ospreys tacked on three runs in the fifth and five in the sixth.

 

In defeat, freshman leftfielder TARA PERRUCCI (Wallington, NJ/Wallington) was 2-for-3 with one run, while Skowronski walked twice and scored NJCU’s other run.

 

For Stockton, junior catcher/designated player Suzanne Gorczynski (Aberdeen, NJ/St. John Vianney) went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs and three RBI while Kerr was 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs. Sophomore designated player Melissa Baumgartner (Mt. Ephraim, NJ/Audubon) went 2-for-2.

               

Freshman Kaitlyn Corica (Iselin, NJ/JFK) hurled a complete game, allowing two runs and five hits with four strikeouts and four walks to improve to 11-5. She helped herself at the plate with two RBIs. 

 

NJCU will conclude its 27^th season of softball on Monday, April 30 at 3 p.m. when the Knights visit FDU-Florham for a non-conference doubleheader in Madison, NJ.