LITTLE RIVER, SC (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Sophomore second baseman Cristina Otero (Jersey City, NJ/North Bergen) was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and sophomore left fielder Juliana Squeo (Carlstadt, NJ/Becton Regional) notched three RBIs as the New Jersey City University softball team posted its first win of the season, blanking Franciscan University, 11-0, in five innings in a late game under the lights on March 7. In a game that ended more than 10 hours earlier, NJCU dropped a 5-1 decision to defending ECAC Division III South champion Penn State Altoona. The win gave new head coach Veronica Grant her first collegiate coaching victory.

Game 1: Penn State University-Altoona 5, New Jersey City University 1
Penn State Altoona, coming off a 29-13 record last year, scored three times in the bottom of the second inning after NJCU (0-3) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first as the Lions (1-0) opened its season with the 5-1 result.
 
PSA junior right-hander Kate Burge (Philipsburg, PA) limited NJCU to two hits and one unearned run in 7.0 innings. She struck out two and walked two over 86 pitches.
 
Freshman righty Christina Mezey (Jersey City, NJ/Saint Dominic Academy) took the loss (0-2), allowing four earned runs against nine hits. She struck out three and walked three.
 
Junior catcher Jazz Randall (Parsippany, NJ/West Orange) was 1-for-2 with a run scored in a leadoff role. She helped manufacture NJCU's only run in the top of the first when she led off with a single after a nine-pitch battle and sped to second when the ball was misplayed in center. She came around to score on an RBI groundout by Otero.
 

For PSA, senior catcher Clarissa Keller (Spring Mills, PA) was 3-for-4 and senior left fielder Mackenzie Strubhar (Tyrone, PA) was 2-for-2 with a triple and a pair of runs scored. Freshman shortstop Haley Giedroc (Howard, PA) knocked in two runs in her first collegiate game.
 
The Lions tied the game in the second when sophomore right fielder Shannon Moore (Garnet Valley, PA) doubled with one out and scored on a sacrifice bunt by Strubhar. After the Lions reached base for the second of three times in the inning, a two-out single through the left side by Giedroc drove in two runs and the eventual decisive margin.
 
PSA added single runs in the fourth and sixth innings. Strubhar led off the fourth with a triple and scored on a sacrifice bunt. A bases-loaded walk in the sixth pushed across the final run.
 
Game 2: New Jersey City University 11, Franciscan University 0 (5 innings)
NJCU (1-3) scored four times in the first inning and four more times in the fourth to blow the game open and win for the first time. The Knights did not commit an error defensively and needed just six hits as its baserunners took advantage of five walks, two hit batters and eight wild pitches. Franciscan dropped to 0-6.
 
Otero had two RBIs, batting 3-for-4 and Squeo's two-run single in the first provided an early cushion before she later added a sacrifice fly. Freshman shortstop Hannah Gavin (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown) walked twice.
 
Senior righty Jayla Lee Vega (Hoboken, NJ/Hoboken) won for the first time as a Gothic Knight (1-1). In 3.0 shutout innings she allowed two hits, fanning two with three walks. Sophomore righty Melissa Mendoza (Union City, NJ/Union City) pitched the final two innings of relief in her first action of the season. She allowed just three hits over 24 pitches.
 
The Barons used three pitchers, rotating its flex player. Freshman righty Amanda Pulice (Weirton, WV) took the loss. She started and was charged with seven runs (four earned), three hits and two walks with four wild pitches.
 
In the four-run opening inning, Randall used her speed to beat out a bunt single. After an error, Randall scored on a wild pitch and an RBI groundout by Otero made it 2-0. Freshman designated player Gabby Rosario (Newark, NJ/Arts) singled, Gavin walked and a hit by pitch loaded the bases before Squeo squeaked a single down the left field line for a 4-0 advantage.
 
Otero had an RBI single in the second inning to increase the lead. NJCU added two more runs in the third when senior Thalia Garcia (Ridgefield, NJ/North Bergen), who stole two bases, reached on a fielder's choice and later scored on a wild pitch. Squeo was hit by a pitch and later stole home as part of a delayed double steal.
 
NJCU punctuated its victory in the fourth inning. Otero singled and later scored on a groundout and Squeo had a sacrifice fly. Two other runners scored on a wild pitch and a later passed ball.
 
#KnightNotes:

• All-Time Series with Penn State Altoona: All-time series even, 1-1. First meeting since March 8, 2004, also in Myrtle Beach, SC
• All-Time Series with Franciscan: First-ever meeting.

 
What's Next?:
After an off day on Tuesday, March 8, the Gothic Knights continue their trip with a pair of afternoon games on Wednesday, March 9. NJCU meets Anna Maria College at 1:30 p.m. before facing Wentworth Institute of Technology at 3:30 p.m. NJCU is 1-0 all-time against Anna Maria, members of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC), last playing the Amcats on March 10, 2010 in Fort Myers, FL—a 10-2 win for NJCU. The Knights have never faced Wentworth, members of the Commonwealth Coast Conference.