New Jersey City University Athletics

UNION, NJ…New Jersey City University outhit Kean University in game one of a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader, 10-8, but allowed six unearned runs and dropped a 9-4 decision to the Cougars on Wednesday. Game two was a tight pitcher’s duel until Kean scored six times in the seventh inning and won 7-0. It was the first games ever played at the new Cougar Field.

 

Kean improves to 16-2 and 3-1 in the NJAC. The Knights are 8-10, 1-3 NJAC. Kean leads the all-time series, 36-5 with 14 straight wins. The game was a make-up of a postponement from yesterday.

 

In defeat, freshman second baseman DANIELLE DELFINO (Jersey City, NJ/County Prep) was a combined 5-for-7 in the twinbill for NJCU. She swiped a base in each game to give her 17 in 20 tries.

 

**************GAME 1: Kean University 9, New Jersey City University 4**************

In the opener, the Cougars were paced by sophomore centerfielder Allison Lizzi (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) who collected five RBIs in a 2-for-3 effort. Sophomore designated player Allison Thibault (Garfield, NJ/Garfield) was 2-for-3 with two runs. Senior first baseman Katie Hicks (Medford Lakes, NJ/Holy Cross) scored twice.

 

Senior shortstop SUSIE MATSUTANI (Gallup, NM/Gallup), the reigning NJAC Player of the Week, was 2-for-4 with two RBIs while Delfino contributed a 3-for-4 day. Sophomore first baseman LACEY SKOWRONSKI (Bayonne, NJ/Holy Family Academy) was 2-for-3 while sophomore rightfielder CHRISTINA PROSPERO (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) was 2-for-4.

 

Freshman right-hander Courtney Smyth (Abington, PA/Abington) won (7-1) for Kean. In 7.0 innings she allowed four runs and 10 hits, but fanned seven and walked three. Junior right-hander ANDREA DELUCREZIA (Belleville, NJ/St. Mary’s-Rutherford) was again a hard-luck loser. She allowed less earned runs and hits than Smyth but was hurt by errors. In 6.0 innings, she allowed only three earned runs and eight hits with three walks and one strikeout.

 

Kean scored three times in the first inning as senior third baseman Kara Schultz (Clinton, NJ/North Hunterdon) had an RBI single. After an NJCU error allowed a second run to cross and extended the inning, Schultz came home on an RBI double by senior catcher Vicki Lanza (Edison, NJ/Edison).

 

NJCU scored single runs in the second and third innings to close within a run, 3-2. In the second inning, Prospero led off with a double before scoring on a two-out single by Delfino. In the third, Skowronski singled and scored on an RBI single by Prospero. The Knights had a chance to tie it in the fourth. Delfino singled with two outs, stole second and moved to third on an error, but was stranded.

 

Kean took advantage by scoring twice in the fourth on a two-run single by Lizzi for a 5-2 lead. The Cougars gained a sizable margin in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring four times as eight came to the plate—all after a two-out error extended the inning. Thibault had an RBI single before Lizzi followed with a three-run double to make it 9-2.

 

NJCU attempted to chip away at the lead in the top of the sixth, scoring twice. After singles by freshman catcher TAYLOR LANG (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) and Delfino, a walk loaded the bases. Matsutani laced a two-out, two-run single to right field to close the deficit to 9-4, but the Knights stranded two to close the frame and did not threaten in the seventh.

 

**************GAME 2: Kean University 7, New Jersey City University 0**************

Game two turned out to be a pitcher’s duel between Skowronski and senior righty Kristen Hennings (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) until the six-run seventh.

 

Hennings improved to 3-1 overall by tossing a seven-inning three-hitter, fanning four and walking none. After starting the season 4-0, Skowronski fell to 4-3. She struck out five in defeat.

 

 

Hicks was 2-for-3, with both hits coming in the seventh inning. Lanza was 2-for-4 for the Cougars. Delfino had two of NJCU’s three hits, finishing 2-for-3.

 

Each team had one single in the first two innings before both schools were retired in order in the third and fourth innings of a scoreless game. With one out in the fifth Kean walked twice, and loaded the bases on an error on a sacrifice bunt. But Skowronski pitched out of trouble, forcing a pop out and foul out, both caught by Matsutani, to end the threat.

 

Kean junior second baseman Sara Steinman (Springfield, NJ/Jonathan Dayton) led off the top of the sixth with a double to right center and advanced to third on a Schultz sacrifice bunt. Lizzi put the Cougars ahead, 1-0, on an RBI double to right—her sixth RBI of the day. Skowronski retired the next two batters to end the inning.

 

But Kean put the game out of reach in the top of the seventh. Hicks led off with a double and moved to third on a single by Thibault before Buchanan sealed the win with a three-run homerun. After a single by Schultz and a Lizzi walk, Lanza added an RBI single, and Kean tallied a sixth run on an error. Hicks followed with an RBI single in her second at-bat of the inning. In all, 11 batters came to the plate for the Cougars.

 

NJCU is back in action on Thursday, April 3 at 3:30 p.m. with a home non-conference doubleheader against Baruch College at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.