New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 FORT MYERS, FL (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University led Drew University, 2-1, before the Rangers scored twice in the bottom of the fifth and held off NJCU, 2-1, in the opening game of the 2014 season at the Gene Cusic Classic. In game two, Wooster broke open a 4-1 softball game with five runs in the top of the seventh, defeating NJCU, 9-1.
  NJCU scored single runs in the second and fifth innings behind timely hitting by sophomore first baseman FAITH ELY (Vienna, NJ/Hackettstown) and senior center fielder CASEY PEREZ (West New York, NJ/Academy of the Holy Angels) before a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth by Drew's Kate McNamara gave the Rangers the go-ahead and eventual winning runs.
 
NJCU outhit Drew (2-1) by 6-5 count in its 2014 debut but the Rangers were able to work out seven walks.
 
Freshman right fielder YAQUELIN IGLESIAS (White Plains, NY/White Plains) was 2-for-3 in her collegiate debut while Ely's first career extra base hit accounted for the lone RBI. Perez was 1-for-4 with a triple and run scored.
 
Junior left-hander ASHLEY LATUSHKO (Kearny, NJ/Kearny), making her collegiate debut on the mound, allowed just three runs and five hits in 6.0 innings, walking seven.
 
Kristin Zeigler, the second pitcher used, improved to 2-0, allowing one unearned run against two hits with a pair of strikeouts in 3.0 innings of relief. Casey Zdanek started for Drew, going 4.0 innings. She allowed one run and four hits while striking out four. McNamara was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and right fielder Helen Mustafa batted 1-for-3 with an RBI double.
 
NJCU opened the scoring in the second. With two outs, senior shortstop GABRIELLE RIVERA (Teaneck, NJ/Saint Joseph of the Palisades) singled and Ely's double made it 1-0. The lead held up until the bottom of the fourth when Zdanek singled and scored on a one-out double by Mustafa, evening the game at 1-1.
 
NJCU got the run back in the top of the fifth when Perez ripped her third career triple to left center and scored on a passed ball for a 2-1 edge.
 
But in the bottom of the fifth, three walks loaded the bases and with one out, McNamara's two-run single to left put Drew in front, 3-2. NJCU managed one hit in the final two innings. In game two, Wooster chalked up 20 hits and NJCU committed five errors as the Fighting Scots (2-2) downed NJCU (0-2). Wooster tallied five doubles in the win.
 
Paige Goldberg, Wooster's catcher, batted 5-for-5 with three runs and a double out of the leadoff spot and shortstop Carly Schoenstein was 4-for-5 with two RBIs and one run, as those two players paced the Scots' offense.
 
Senior second baseman MAXINE KAMINSKI (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) had her second career three-hit day, batting 3-for-3 with a run scored. NJCU had eight hits in the loss. Ely was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
 
Also for Wooster, right fielder Linea Brouse batted 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run. Jenna Kindall and Demi Hart each finished 2-for-5 with an RBI and Georgia Hill was 2-for-4.
 
Jenna Hunkins won for Wooster (1-1), allowing one run over eight singles with five strikeouts and two walks. Rookie right-hander MELISSA MENDOZA (Union, NJ/Union City) took the loss (0-1) in her collegiate debut, striking out one against the Scots' offensive outburst.
 
The Scots scored once in the third on an error before adding two runs in the fifth on RBI singles by Schoenstein and Hart. A sixth-inning single by Brouse extended the lead to 4-0. NJCU got a run back in the bottom of the frame on Ely's second RBI of the day after collecting six as a freshman in 2013.
 
But Wooster broke the game open as 11 players batted in the seventh. An RBI single by Aundrea Atwell and an RBI double by pinch hitter Stephenie Little made it 6-0 before a bunt single by Brouse made it 7-0. A groundout by Schoenstein and a single by Kendall produced the final two runs.
 
On day two of the spring trip, NJCU faces Kenton College and Curry College at 1 and 3 p.m. in Fort Myers, Fla.

GAME 1: Monday, March 10, 2014 | Fort Myers, Fla.
New Jersey City University (0-1)	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	X	X	2	6	0
Drew University (2-1)	0	0	0	1	2	0	X	X	X	3	5	1
WP: Kristin Zeigler (2-0). LP: ASHLEY LATUSHKO (0-1).

 

GAME 2: Monday, March 10, 2014 | Fort Myers, Fla.
College of Wooster (2-2)	0	0	1	0	2	1	5	X	X	9	20	0
New Jersey City University (0-2)	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	X	X	1	8	5
WP: Jenna Hunkins (1-1). LP: MELISSA MENDOZA (0-2).