New Jersey City University Athletics

BRONX, NY…Sophomore centerfielder TARA PERRUCCI (Wallington, NJ/Wallington) was a combined 5-for-6 with six RBIs and four runs and senior shortstop SUSIE MATSUTANI (Gallup, NM/Gallup) went 6-for-6 with six runs, five RBIs and two triples as New Jersey City University collected 31 runs and 36 hits in 10 innings, sweeping a pair of five-inning doubleheaders from Lehman College, 16-0 and 15-2, Thursday at South Field.

 

NJCU evens its record at 7-7 overall while defeating Lehman (0-4) for the 14^th consecutive time since 1991. The Gothic Knights lead the all-time non-conference series, 16-2.

 

The combined 31 runs were the most by NJCU in a doubleheader since sweeping John Jay College, 22-7 and 9-2 on March 29, 2001. Meanwhile, the 29-run margin in the twinbill was the most lopsided since a 32-run, two-game difference when NJCU defeated Rutgers-Newark, 25-1 and 9-1 on April 18, 2000.

 

**************GAME 1: New Jersey City University 16, Lehman College 0**************

Junior right-hander ANDREA DELUCREZIA (Belleville, NJ/St. Mary’s-Rutherford) was just one out away from the seventh no-hitter in program history. She faced the minimum number of batters in each inning until giving up a lone single with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. She finished with her second career one-hitter, striking out four with one walk for the win (2-6).

 

NJCU scored four times in the first and 10 times in the second inning, before adding single runs in the third and fifth innings. The Knights had 13 batters come to the plate in the 10-run second. In all, eight of nine starters had at least one hit and scored at least once, while five had multiple hits. NJCU had nine stolen bases in the game.

 

Matsutani, who increased her season batting average to a staggering .512, was 3-for-3 with four RBIs, three runs and two steals in game one. She continued to climb NJCU’s all-time charts in the doubleheader, increasing her career record for triples to 12, while moving into fifth place with 164 total bases. She had a two-RBI single in the first inning and another two-run single in the second inning.

 

SUSIE MATSUTANI" src="/images/softball/2008/3/29/03-26-07%20Susie%20Matsutani%2019.JPG" width=150 align=left border=0>Perrucci was 3-for-3 with three RBIs, two runs, a second-inning three-RBI triple, and three stolen bases while sophomore designated player LACEY SKOWRONSKI (Bayonne, NJ/Holy Family Academy) was 3-for-3 with three runs and a triple.

 

On a day where the NJCU offense was dynamic, several other players rung up impressive displays. Sophomore third baseman CHRISTEN HALL (East Rutherford, NJ/Becton Regional) had three RBIs, going 2-for-3 with a second-inning two-RBI double, while freshman second baseman DANIELLE DELFINO (Jersey City, NJ/County Prep) scored three times in a 2-for-3 showing.

 

Freshman leftfielder STEPHANIE GOMEZ (Belleville, NJ/Belleville) went 2-for-2 with two runs and sophomore first baseman CHRISTINA PROSPERO (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) chipped in a 2-for-3 effort.

 

**************GAME 2: New Jersey City University 15, Lehman College 2**************

The onslaught commenced immediately in game two with NJCU scoring 10 times in the first inning with 13 batters coming to the plate. NJCU, which also had 18 hits in the nightcap and another nine steals, added three runs in the second and two in the third.

 

Perrucci had a three-run triple to cap the first inning, going 2-for-3 with two runs while Matsutani was 3-for-3 with three runs, one RBI and a triple. Hall was 3-for-3 with three runs and two steals.

 

Delfino stole three bases—giving her 14 in 14 games—in a 2-for-2, two-run display. She set the tone in the first inning when she singled, then stole second, third and home in sequence.

 

Also for NJCU, Skowronski was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, one run and a two-RBI double. Prospero was 2-for-3 and Gomez went 2-for-4 with two steals and one run. Freshman catcher TAYLOR LANG (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) had two RBIs, walked twice, and was 1-for-2 while junior rightfielder ROXY ARISTY (West New York, NY/St. Joseph’s of the Palisades) scored twice and had two steals.

 

Freshman right-hander CAITLIN LUNDBERG (Jersey City, NJ/St. Dominic Academy) was a winner in her first career start (1-0). In 3.0 innings, she allowed one earned run and five singles, with two strikeouts and no walks.

 

Sophomore Maria Cruz (Brooklyn, NY/Bushwick) lost both games for the Lightning (0-4). In the two games, she allowed all 31 earned runs and 36 hits, with 14 walks and five strikeouts.

 

NJCU is back in action on Saturday, March 29 at 1 p.m. when the Knights face 2006 NCAA Division III National Champion Rutgers University-Camden, the 2006 and 2007 New Jersey Athletic Conference champions, in the 2008 NJAC openers for both schools in Camden, NJ.