New Jersey City University Athletics

 

JERSEY CITY, NJ…New Jersey City University saw five players notch multiple hits in game one and senior right-hander ANDREA DELUCREZIA (Belleville, NJ/St. Mary's-Rutherford) fired a two-hit shutout in game two, as the Gothic Knights swept a non-conference doubleheader from Baruch College, 8-4 in the opener, and 8-0 in five innings in the nightcap, on April 9 at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.

 

NJCU improved to 11-15 overall and snapped a three-game losing streak with the sweep while Baruch (12-11) had its four-game winning streak end. NJCU leads the all-time series, 7-0, and has outscored Baruch 57-14 in those meetings.

 

*******GAME 1: NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY: 8, BARUCH COLLEGE: 4*******

In the first game of the day, NJCU scored its eight runs in the first three innings, with a five-run third inning. The Knights had 13 hits in six innings at the plate.

 

The Knights saw offensive contributions from five different starters. Sophomore right fielder STEPHANIE GOMEZ (Belleville, NJ/Belleville) went 3-for-3 with two RBIs, one run scored, a triple and a stolen base. Sophomore second baseman DANIELLE DELFINO (Jersey City, NJ/County Prep) went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, and three steals, giving her 18 on the campaign.

 

Also for NJCU, junior first baseman CHRISTINA PROSPERO (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) went 2-for-4 with two doubles and one RBI. Freshman outfielder NICOLE SARICA (Linden, NJ/Linden) went 1-for-2 with two RBIs, one run scored and a stolen base. Sophomore catcher TAYLOR LANG (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) scored twice.

 

Senior pitcher LACEY SKOWRONSKI (Bayonne, NJ/Holy Family Academy) improved to 6-7 with the win. In seven innings, she allowed just four runs on five hits with five strikeouts and five walks.

 

Baruch sophomore pitcher Lynn Schiano (Middle Village, NY/St. Francis Prep) took the loss for the Bearcats (4-4), allowing eight runs on 13 hits, while walking two and striking out one. 

 

Offensively, Baruch was led by freshman third baseman Cristina Arce (Iselin, NJ/J.F.K.), who went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a double. Freshman second baseman Melanie Pellegrino (Brooklyn, NY/Edward R. Murrow) went 1-for-3 with two runs scored, a triple and two stolen bases. Freshman utility player Gisell Alix (Williamsburg, NY/Brandeis) went 1-for-2 with one run scored and a double. 

 

After Baruch scored first on a bases loaded walk, NJCU opened a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning on RBI doubles by Skowronski and Prospero. In the second inning, Sarica had a sacrifice bunt that drove in a run for a 3-1 edge, but Baruch tied it at 3-3 in the top of the third when Arce tallied a two-run double.

 

However, the Knights put the game out of reach in the bottom of the third inning, scoring five runs on four hits, as 13 batters came to the plate. Sarica put NJCU ahead when she was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and one out. After a passed ball provided the eventual winning run, Gomez had a two-run triple to right center and Delfino chipped an RBI bunt single for an 8-3 margin.

*******GAME 1: NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY: 8, BARUCH COLLEGE: 0*******

The second game of the afternoon was highlighted by a shutout, two-hit pitching performance by Delucrezia, who has dominated CUNYAC conference batters this year. It was her third two-hitter or better this year and she has now allowed just five hits in 15 innings against CUNYAC hitters. She fanned four, walked just one, while allowing a single and double, improving to 5-8 overall.

 

She was backed up at the plate by Skowronski, the designated player in game two, who went 1-for-2 with one run scored and one RBI, and sophomore catcher ALEXANDRA DiIORIO (Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) who went 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Freshman shortstop MEGAN GINTER (Nutley, NJ/Nutley), junior third baseman TARA PERRUCCI (Wallington, NJ/Wallington), and Prospero each added one RBI while Delfino and Perrucci each scored twice.

 

The Bearcats were led by junior shortstop Melissa Pena (Queens Village, NY/W.C. Bryant) and Alix, who each went 1-for-2 in the second game. 

 

Sophomore pitcher Andrea Tepfer (Staten Island, NY/Susan Wagner) took the loss for Baruch, despite allowing just three hits, as three errors by the Bearcats' defense allowed half of NJCU's runs to cross the plate. Tepfer (5-5) allowed eight runs in all. She fanned three but walked five.

 

Early on, the game appeared close as NJCU had single runs in the second and third innings for a 2-0 lead. DiIorio's RBI single in the second drove home Perrucci with the only run NJCU would need before Skowronski knocked in another run in the third.

 

In the fifth, NJCU scored six times despite just one hit, as three walks, two errors and one hit batter allowed the eight-run rule to be enforced.