BOX SCORES: GAME 1 | GAME 2
MADISON, NJ (www.NJCUGothicKnights.com)...New Jersey City University senior left fielder and right-handed pitcher TARA PERRUCCI (East Rutherford, NJ/Wallington) notched three hits in game one and freshman third baseman REBECCA SATZ (Morris Plains, NJ/Morristown) and freshman second baseman SAMANTHA RUDICK (Closter, NJ/Northern Valley Regional-Demarest) matched her with three in the nightcap. But FDU-Florham sophomore Megan McInaw (Hillsborough, NJ) hit three homeruns in the second game, including a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Devils swept a non-conference doubleheader from the Gothic Knights, 5-3 and 9-5, on Wednesday at McManus Field.
NJCU drops to 14-18 overall while FDU ups its mark to 13-19. The Devils lead the all-time series, 22-8. The game was NJCU's second extra-inning game of the season. In the 30-year history of the Gothic Knight softball program, NJCU is 13-20-1 in extra inning games (24 years of data available).
Perrucci moved into sixth place in school history with 112 career hits, passing Karen Flicker (1992-95) on the all-time list. McInaw was a combined 5-for-9 with three homeruns, seven RBIs and three runs for the Devils.
******GAME 1: FDU-FLORHAM 5, NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY 3******
In game one, NJCU led 1-0 before FDU scored five straight runs, including three in the fifth inning for a 5-1 margin. NJCU closed within 5-3, scoring twice in the top of the sixth before the Devils, who were outhit by the Knights, 8-6, held on for the win.
For NJCU, senior left fielder TARA PERRUCCI (East Rutherford, NJ/Wallington) was 3-for-4 with two runs, a triple and one RBI. Junior first baseman/catcher TAYLOR LANG (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) went 2-for-3.
FDU received a 2-for-4 effort by McInaw, the pitcher in game one. On the mound, she allowed three runs (two earned) and eight hits with five strikeouts and two walks in 7.0 innings for the win (7-9).
The Devils also received a 2-for-3 showing with one run from junior right fielder Brianne Faynor (Cliffwood Beach, NJ). Freshman second baseman Christine Antoniotti (Glen Cove, NY) was 1-for-2 with two RBIs while sophomore center fielder Ronica Sorice (Belleville, NJ) scored twice.
NJCU rookie righty ASHLEY O'BEIRNE (Wood-Ridge, NJ/Immaculate Conception) took the loss (8-10). She struck out five but walked five in 6.0 innings, allowing five runs and six hits.
NJCU scored first in the second inning. Perrucci had her leadoff at-bat extended when a foul ball was dropped, capitalizing with a triple to left field, before scoring when Lang doubled to left.
FDU tied it in the bottom of the third. Faynor singled, advanced to second on a two-out single by McInaw and was pushed to third when a hit batter loaded the bases. Faynor scored on the first of three NJCU wild pitches.
In the fourth inning, NJCU loaded the bases with no outs when Perrucci doubled and two players reached on errors, but the Knights couldn't push across the go-ahead run. FDU took the lead for good in the bottom of the frame. Sorice was hit by a pitch with one out and scored on a double by Antoniotti.
FDU added three in the bottom of the fifth. A leadoff double and two walks loaded the bases after a fielder's choice. Antoniotti walked, driving in one run, before two more Devils scored on wild pitches, as the hosts gained a 5-1 advantage.
In the sixth, Satz led off with a double for NJCU and scored on Perrucci's second double of the game. A sacrifice fly by junior catcher ALEXANDRA DiIORIO (Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) scored Perrucci with a third run. But NJCU couldn't score another run and later stranded two runners in the seventh inning.
******GAME 2: FDU-FLORHAM 9, NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY 5 (8 inn.)******
In game two, McInaw hit three homeruns—in the first, third and eighth innings—going 3-for-5 with seven RBIs and three runs. She now has 10 homeruns on the year.
FDU led 2-0 after one inning before the Knights plated three runs in the top of the third for a brief 3-2 margin. FDU tied it in the bottom of the third and added a fourth run in the fifth, before NJCU evened the score at 4-4 in the sixth. NJCU claimed a 5-4 eighth-inning lead before FDU scored five times in the inning, highlighted by the walk-off grand slam, to claim the victory.
Satz, the reigning NJAC Rookie Hitter of the Week, was 3-for-4 with a run and RBI and Rudick, who continues to play well at second base, was 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Junior center fielder STEPHANIE GOMEZ (South Plainfield, NJ/Belleville) added two hits (2-for-4).
For Florham, Sorice was 2-for-3 with a run and Faynor scored twice, going 1-for-2. Sophomore Megan Golembiewski (Beacon, NY), the winning pitcher in the game, went 2-for-4 at the plate. Junior catcher/right fielder Megan Boyle (South Plainfield, NJ) was 2-for-4 with one RBI.
Golembiewski claimed the win (3-7). In 8.0 innings she allowed four runs—one earned—and 10 hits, all singles, with four strikeouts and no walks. Perrucci (6-8) was charged with eight runs and 14 hits, with three walks and one K.
FDU took a 2-0 first inning lead when Faynor led off with a double and McInaw homered. NJCU responded with three in the third inning. After an error, Gomez singled and Satz followed with an RBI single. Perrucci grounded out to drive in the tying run. With two outs, DiIorio, who was 1-for-4 with a run and RBI, singled to score Satz as the Knights grabbed a 3-2 edge. Boyle had an RBI single in the bottom of the frame to tie it for FDU.
In the fifth, McInaw broke the 3-3 deadlock with a one-out solo homer, before the Knights evened it again in the visitor's sixth. With two outs, Rudick singled, stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball, and took advantage of another defensive miscue by the Devils, scoring on an error.
In the seventh, Satz led off with a single but NJCU couldn't produce a run. FDU had a chance to win it in the bottom of the seventh, as Boyle singled with one out and a walk pushed the winning run into scoring position, before Perrucci generated two ground ball outs against Golembiewski and Sorice.
With the tie-breaker rule in effect in the eighth inning, DiIorio started the frame on second base and scored when sophomore shortstop MEGAN GINTER (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) reached on an RBI fielder's choice.
NJCU led 5-4 heading to the bottom of the eighth, when Sorice started on second base. FDU tied it when a sacrifice bunt was misplayed into an error and Sorice came around for a 5-5 deadlock. A single gave the Devils two runners on without an out. A fielder's choice erased the lead runner at third before another infield single loaded the bases for McInaw, who ended the game with the grand slam.
NJCU returns to action on Saturday, April 24 at 12 p.m. when it hosts Richard Stockton College in a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex. It will be Senior Day for NJCU, which will honor Perrucci, the lone senior on the squad.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
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GAME 1: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 | Madison, NJ
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New Jersey City University (14-17)
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0
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1
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0
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0
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0
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2
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0
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-
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-
|
3
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8
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0
|
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FDU-Florham (12-19)
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0
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0
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1
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1
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3
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0
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X
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-
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-
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5
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6
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3
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WP: Megan McInaw (7-9) LP: ASHLEY O'BEIRNE (8-10).
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GAME 2: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 | Madison, NJ
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New Jersey City University (14-18)
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0
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0
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3
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0
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0
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1
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0
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1
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-
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5
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10
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1
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FDU-Florham (13-19)
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2
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0
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1
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0
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1
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0
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0
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5
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-
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9
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14
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2
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WP: Megan Golembiewski (3-7). LP: TARA PERRUCCI (6-8). HR: Megan McInaw, 3 (8, 9, 10)
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