New Jersey City University Athletics

JERSEY CITY, NJ…New Jersey City University rebounded from a game-one loss with a five-run second inning in the nightcap, as the Gothic Knights split a doubleheader with two-time defending New Jersey Athletic Conference champion, Rutgers University-Camden, falling 10-2 in the opener before prevailing 6-5 in the second, Saturday at Rutgers-Camden Community Park. It was the 2008 NJAC opener for both teams.

 

The 6-5 win marked the 300^th victory in the history of the NJCU softball program, which started in 1981. Camden leads the all-time series, 26-21, but the win in the nightcap by the Knights snapped the Scarlet Raptors’ 11-game winning streak in the series since 2002.

 

**************GAME 2: New Jersey City University 6, Rutgers-Camden 5**************

Junior right-hander ANDREA DELUCREZIA (Belleville, NJ/St. Mary’s-Rutherford) allowed just one earned run and despite a four-run sixth inning rally for the Raptors, made a 5-1 lead hold up as the Knights prevailed, 6-5. Delucrezia also helped herself offensively, batting 2-for-3 with the eventual game-winning RBI. NJCU won despite being outhit, 10-6.

 

Camden received three RBIs in a 2-for-4 showing from sophomore third baseman/centerfielder Stephanie Klotz (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) while junior rightfielder Valeri Bohn (Delran, NJ/Holy Cross) went 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBIs. Sophomore first baseman Amanda D’Anduono (Lanoka Harbor, NJ/Lacey Township) was 2-for-4 with one run while junior relief pitcher Natalie Powell (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) batted 2-for-2.

 

In the second inning, Camden took a 1-0 lead when Klotz singled in Bohn. But NJCU scored five times in the bottom of the inning on four hits, as nine batters came to the plate.

 

Sophomore leftfielder KRYSTINA KINGSTON (Mountainside, NJ/Governor Livingston) led off with a triple before scoring on an RBI double by sophomore first baseman CHRISTINA PROSPERO (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus). With two outs, NJCU drew a walk, and freshman second baseman DANIELLE DELFINO (Jersey City, NJ/County Prep) made it 2-1 with an RBI single. Sophomore designated player LACEY SKOWRONSKI (Bayonne, NJ/Holy Family Academy) then reached on a Camden error. The miscue resulted in the bases clearing as the Knights seized a 5-1 margin with the assistance of three unearned runs.

 

In the fifth inning, senior shortstop SUSIE MATSUTANI (Gallup, NM/Gallup) reached on an error. With the bases loaded, Delucrezia followed with a one-out RBI single to score Matsutani for a 6-1 lead and the eventual winning run.

 

After the first two Raptors were retired in the sixth in inning, an error kept the frame alive and Camden tallied four unearned runs on four hits to close the gap to 6-5. Bohn and Klotz each posted two-RBI doubles. With the tying run on third, Delucrezia coaxed freshman second baseman Brooke Keenan (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) into an inning-ending pop out. In the seventh, D’Anduono reached on NJCU’s second error of the game with two outs, but again Delucrezia, who stranded seven Raptors on base, forced a pop out, retiring junior centerfielder Cristina Petrutz (Somerdale, NJ/Sterling) to end the game.

 

Delucrezia improved to 3-6 overall with the win, striking out one and walking two. Sophomore pitcher Steph Skroski (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) took the loss (0-5), allowing five runs (two earned) with two walks and two strikeouts in 4.0 innings.

 

**************GAME 1: Rutgers-Camden 10, New Jersey City University 2**************

Camden scored three times in the first and four times in the second inning to grab a 7-1 lead and when the Raptors added two more tallies in the fourth inning, the game ended after five innings due to the eight-run rule. The first five batters in the Camden lineup each went 2-for-3 to account for 10 of the Raptors 12 total hits.

 

Senior shortstop Kathleen Dreitlein (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston) had three RBIs, going 2-for-3 with two runs, a two-run homer in the second inning and a double. Skroski, the third baseman in the game, was 2-for-3 with two runs, two RBIs and a solo homer in the second. Klotz was 2-for-3 with two runs, while Keenan contributed two runs and one RBI in a 2-for-3 effort. D’Anduono was 2-for-2. Freshman catcher Ashley McDonald (Woodbury, NJ/Woodbury) tallied two RBIs.

 

DANIELLE DELFINO" src="/images/softball/2008/3/29/03-18-08%20Danielle%20Delfino%205.jpg" width=150 align=left border=0>Delfino was the lone NJCU player with multiple hits, going 2-for-2 with two runs and a third-inning leadoff homerun—the first of her career.

 

Powell won for the Raptors (3-6), striking out six and walking four in 5.0 innings, with two runs and six hits against. Skowronski pitched 0.2 innings before being relieved, but was charged with her second loss (4-2). She allowed three runs and three hits, walking two. Freshman right-hander CAITLIN LUNDBERG (Jersey City, NJ/St. Dominic Academy) threw the final 3.1 innings for NJCU.

 

Delfino led off the game with a single and stole her 15^th base of the year, before scoring on a groundout by Skowronski. But Camden took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning as nine batters came to the plate. Skroski had an RBI single, and with two outs Bohn and McDonald each drew bases-loaded walks.

 

Camden added four more runs in the second inning. Klotz doubled before scoring on a Keenan single. Dreitlein then posted a two-run homer, making it 6-1, and Skroski lofted another round-tripper as the Raptors went back-to-back.

 

NJCU got one run back in the third as Delfino launched her first career homer, but RC received an RBI double from Dreitlein to make it 8-2. McDonald had an RBI double in the fourth before scoring on one of NJCU’s two errors.

 

NJCU will continue its NJAC road softball schedule on Tuesday, April 1 at 3 p.m. when it visits Kean University in Union, NJ.