New Jersey City University Athletics

EWING, NJ…New Jersey City University has never defeated six-time national champion The College of New Jersey in softball, but on April 19 came awfully close twice on the same day. Junior right-hander ANDREA DELUCREZIA (Belleville, NJ/St. Mary’s-Rutherford) tossed a four-hitter in game one, before TCNJ scored in its final at bat for a 1-0 victory, while NJCU battled back in the sixth inning of game two for a 3-3 deadlock before the Lions won the nightcap with a grand slam in their final at-bat.

 

TCNJ (20-14, 8-6 NJAC) gave 13^th year head coach Sally Miller her 350th career victory with the sweep, while the Knights dropped to 14-18 overall and 4-10 NJAC. In the history of the series which TCNJ leads 22-0, the one-run margin in game one and the combined four runs in the doubleheader were the two closest results ever for a single-game or twinbill.

 

***********GAME 1: The College of New Jersey 1, New Jersey City University 0***********

Game one was a true pitcher’s duel as Delucrezia battled with TCNJ sophomore Ashley Minervini (Cliffside Park, NJ/Cliffside Park). Delucrezia went 5.0 innings, allowing four hits and one walk, taking a no-decision. Minervini tossed a one-hit shutout, with four walks and three strikeouts over 7.0 innings.

NJCU sophomore right-handed pitcher and first baseman LACEY SKOWRONSKI (Bayonne, NJ/Holy Family Academy) was solid in relief over 1.1 innings, allowing just three hits and one run, but that lone run in the bottom of the seventh was the only one to cross the plate in the opener.

 

Minervini (10-7) aided her cause by going 2-for-3 with the lone RBI for TCNJ while sophomore third baseman Rachel Greeby (Yardley, PA/Pennsbury) was 2-for-2. Sophomore centerfielder TARA PERRUCCI (Wallington, NJ/Wallington) had the lone NJCU hit.

 

NJCU’s best scoring chance came in the top of the first when an error, walk and hit by pitch loaded the bases with two outs before three were stranded. NJCU also left two in the fifth.

 

Delucrezia worked out of trouble in the first and fifth, leaving two Lions on base in each frame. Minervini received a solid defensive play from sophomore shortstop Ellen Seavers (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) in the sixth inning as the Gothic Knights had runners on the corners and nobody out. Seavers made a diving catch on a line drive by sophomore pinch-hitter KRYSTINA KINGSTON (Mountainside, NJ/Governor Livingston) and then doubled a runner off from third to end the threat.

 

However in the seventh, junior designated player Camille Heller (Maple Shade, NJ/Maple Shade) led off with a double and after a sacrifice bunt moved freshman pinch runner Kathy Sikora (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) to third, she scored on a walkoff single by Minervini.

 

***********GAME 2: The College of New Jersey 7, New Jersey City University 3***********

TCNJ jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of game two before Skowronski shut down the Lions until the final inning. NJCU, the home team in the second game by NJAC rule, tied it in bottom of the sixth on a two-run single by freshman second baseman DANIELLE DELFINO (Jersey City, NJ/County Prep). But a two-out grand slam in the top of the seventh by sophomore centerfielder Danielle Hagel (Egg Harbor City, NJ/Oakcrest) broke a 3-3 deadlock as the Lions survived for the 7-3 win.

               

In a game where each team had only five hits, Hagel led the way with five RBIs, going 1-for-3. Greeby, who was 1-for-2 with two walks, had two RBIs. Senior first baseman Christina Lizzi (Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) scored twice.

 

Delfino had a solid outing going 2-for-4 with two RBIs while sophomore third baseman CHRISTEN HALL (East Rutherford, NJ/Becton Regional) added a 2-for-3 effort.

Minervini was the winner in relief (11-7), not allowing a hit in the final 1.1 innings with one walk after NJCU had tied it against freshman Alex Sietsma (Glen Rock, NJ/Glen Rock). Skowronski (8-8) suffered the loss, falling to .500 for the first time all season.

               

In the first, TCNJ scored three times as Greeby had a two-run double and Hagel followed with a run-scoring sacrifice bunt. Skowronski was outstanding from there, keeping the Lions hitless until the seventh. When an error and two walks loaded the bases in the third, she stranded all runners.

 

NJCU did not have its first hit until the fourth inning, when the Knights loaded the bases with one out, but couldn’t drive a run in. Finally, NJCU’s season-long resiliency reappeared in the sixth. A Hall single and two walks loaded the bases with two outs when freshman leftfielder STEPHANIE GOMEZ (Belleville, NJ/Belleville) was hit by a pitch for an RBI. Delfino then laced a two-run single to center to tie the contest at 3-3. When senior shortstop SUSIE MATSUTANI (Gallup, NM/Gallup) ripped a pitch towards right field it appeared NJCU would take the lead before Lizzi made a diving stop to end the inning.

 

In the top of the seventh, TCNJ had one on with two outs before Greeby walked and Heller was hit by a pitch. Hagel followed with her third homer of the season to give TCNJ the 7-3 win.

               

NJCU will return to action against yet another strong NJAC team on Tuesday, April 22 at 3 p.m. when the Knights hosts #17 ranked Ramapo College in a doubleheader at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.