New Jersey City University Athletics

BOX SCORE: Game 1
BOX SCORE: Game 2

JERSEY CITY, NJ…New Jersey City University scored twice in the bottom of the seventh inning to walk-off with a 4-3 victory over College of Staten Island, in the nightcap of a non-conference softball doubleheader on Monday at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex. CSI scored three times in the top of the seventh in game to break open a 4-2 game, prevailing by a 7-2 count.

 

With the split, both teams remain .500 on the season as NJCU is 6-6 and the Dolphins are 5-5. The Dolphins now lead the all-time series 16-14. 

 

**************GAME 1: College of Staten Island 7, New Jersey City University 2**************

 

In the 7-2 win, CSI outhit NJCU, 10-4, led by freshman catcher Amanda D'Amato (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph by the Sea), who was 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Freshman pitcher Danielle Ponsiglione (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph by the Sea) went 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI and freshman third baseman Kaitlyn Flynn (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) added a 2-for-3 effort with a run and RBI. Freshman right fielder Catherine Ebro (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph by the Sea) finished 2-for-4 with a run and RBI.

 

NJCU didn't have a player with multiple hit, but sophomore catcher TAYLOR LANG (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) was 1-for-2 with one RBI. Senior designated player/pitcher LACEY SKOWRONSKI (Bayonne, NJ/Holy Family Academy) was 1-for-3 with her 21^st career double and a run scored. Junior first baseman CHRISTINA PROSPERO (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) also was 1-for-3 with a run.

 

CSI took a 1-0 lead in the second on an RBI single by D'Amato before NJCU immediately responded with a second inning run of its own. Prospero smacked a double to left center field, advanced to third on single by junior center fielder TARA PERRUCCI (Wallington, NJ/Wallington), before coming in on Lang's sacrifice fly.

 

CSI took the lead for good with two more runs in the third. Ebro singled and scored on a double by senior shortstop Nicole Estrada (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Kearny) double to left center, before she later scored on a single by Flynn for a 3-1 lead.

 

In the fourth, NJCU cut it to 3-2 as Skowronski doubled to left center field and was pushed over to third when Prospero grounded out to second base. Perrucci then smacked a groundball to the Dolphin shortstop which was bobbled, allowing Skowronski to score.

 

CSI tacked on a run in the fifth on an Ebro RBI single before putting the game away with three insurance runs in their half of the seventh inning on an RBI single by Ponsiglione and a two-run double by D'Amato. The Gothic Knights could not rally in the bottom of the seventh inning.

 

Ponsiglione was the winner for CSI, allowing two runs on four hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Senior right-hander ANDREA DELUCREZIA (Belleville, NJ/St. Mary's-Rutherford) took the loss for NJCU, bringing her to 3-3 on the year. In six innings of work she allowed six earned runs, on nine hits with three strikeouts and walks. 

 

**************GAME 2: New Jersey City University 4, College of Staten Island 3**************

In a wild second game, Prospero was 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI, and she tied the game at 2-2 when she led off the bottom of the sixth inning with her second career homerun. After CSI regained a 3-2 edge in the seventh, Prospero scored the winning run after back-to-back passed balls.

 

Perrucci was 1-for-2 with a double for NJCU. Staten Island received a 2-for-4 effort with two RBIs, one run and a homer by Flynn and a 2-for-3 showing from Estrada.

 

NJCU opened a 1-0 lead in the first inning when senior third baseman CHRISTEN HALL (East Rutherford, NJ/Becton Regional) singled to score freshman shortstop MEGAN GINTER (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) who led off the inning with a walk and quickly stole second base. It stood as the lone run for either team until the top of the fifth inning.

 

Estrada led off the fifth inning with a double to center field for the Dolphins, before Flynn slammed a two-run home run over the left field fence. Prospero answered when she also homered over the left field wall in the sixth, tying it at 2-2.

 

CSI broke the tie in the top of the seventh, when junior center fielder Allyssa D'Elia (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph by the Sea) singled up the middle with two outs for a 3-2 advantage.

 

The Gothic Knights battled back, taking advantage of every inch they could get off the Dolphins. Sophomore second baseman DANIELLE DELFINO (Jersey City, NJ/County Prep) got the rally started with a walk before stealing second.  Skowronski then hit a deep fly ball to center field which was dropped, allowing Delfino to score while Skowronski moved to second. Freshman NICOLE SARICA (Linden, NJ/Linden) pinch ran, moved to third on a wild pitch and Prospero walked. Sarica was caught stealing at home for the second out of the inning. But Prospero stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. She then scored the winning run when ball four to Perrucci got away from the CSI catcher. 

Skowronski (3-3) took the win for NJCU, pitching a seven-inning complete game, allowing three runs on seven hits, while striking out one and walking three. Sophomore Michelle Ferraiuolo (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) fell to 1-3 with the loss, allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits, while walking seven and striking out two.