BRONX, N.Y. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New York University scored five runs in the first inning of each end of the doubleheader, each time aided by at least two New Jersey City University middle infield errors, as the Violets swept a non-conference doubleheader from NJCU, 9-0 and 13-1, both in five innings, on April 29 at Fordham University's Bahoshy Field.
 
NYU improved to 21-15 overall, winning a school record eighth and ninth in a row. NJCU falls to 11-27 (lost 22) since starting the year 11-5 after an eight-game winning streak in late March. In the final non-conference action of the season, NJCU ends the year 11-11 out of the league.
 
Game 1: New York University 9, New Jersey City University 0 (5 innings)
Freshman right-handed pitcher Karissa Zubulake (Whitehouse Station, N.J.) improved to 7-1 with the shutout. Zubulake limited NJCU to two singles, in the second and fifth innings, striking out five (one walk) over 60 pitches.
 
For NYU, senior shortstop Kahala Bonsignore (Ventura, Calif.) was 3-for- 3 with two runs and two RBIs. Freshman shortstop Dakota Damiani (Coral Springs, Fla.) and freshman right fielder Ashley Mains (Los Gatos, Calif.) were each 2-for-3 with two runs. Sophomore second baseman Sage Scheiwiller (Spokane, Wash.) was 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI while freshman left fielder Claire Stefanelli (Lavallette, N.J.) had two RBIs (1-for-3, one run).
 
How it Happened:
NYU scored five runs (four unearned) in the first inning when the hosts had three hits and NJCU committed three errors. Damiani singled and later scored on a ground ball by Stefanelli and a second run scored on an error at second base. An RBI single by Scheiwiller made it 3-0. With two runners in scoring position, a ball that was not caught in shallow right field allowed two more runs to cross for a 5-0 lead. Nine batters came to the plate in the inning.
 
After the first two batters reached on a hit by pitch and single by Damiani in the second inning, Bonsignore had a two-run single for a 7-0 lead.
 
In the fourth, Bonsignore singled to center and advanced when the ball was misplayed in center. Mains ripped a triple through the right side that rolled all the way to the fence for an 8-0 lead before she scored the final run on a single by Stefanelli.
 
Senior right-handed pitcher/third baseman Jayla Lee Vega (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) took the loss for NJCU (6-12).
 
Game 2: New York University 13, New Jersey City University 1 (5 innings)
Seven of the first nine runs scored in the first two innings were unearned, including five more in the first inning as NYU prevailed in five innings. NYU outhit NJCU, 12-4.
 
In defeat, NJCU sophomore left fielder Juliana Squeo (Carlstadt, N.J./Becton Regional) launched her second career home run—both coming in the last week.  
 
NYU junior designated player Val Schwein (Agawam, Mass.) produced three RBIs, going 2-for-3 with two runs while Scheiwiller capped her four-hit day going 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. Stefanelli scored three runs, batting 2-for-3.
 
Also for the Violets, Damiani scored twice (1-for-3), Mains was 2-for-2 with two runs and freshman catcher Carina Sturm (McLean, Va.) doubled twice and two RBIs. Freshman Allyson Schmus (Voorhees, N.J.) had a two-run pinch-hit homer.
 
Freshman righty Katie Piorkowski (Massapequa, N.Y.) earned her first career win (1-0), allowing just two hits (one walk) in 3.0 innings (38 pitches). Junior righty Jacqueline Tremblay (Naples, Fla.) threw the last two innings, allowing one run and two hits with a K.

 
In defeat, freshman third baseman/right-hander Christina Mezey (Jersey City, N.J./Saint Dominic Academy) struck out seven (against three walks) in 4.0 innings.
 
How it Happened:
In the first, Damiani walked with one out, Stefanelli reached on an error and a bloop single by Mains that fell in behind the pitcher allowed everyone to be safe when none of the bases were covered. The second error of the inning scored the first two runs and Scheiwiller had an RBI single to center for a 3-0 lead. Sturm floated a double down the right field line that dropped in, scoring two more runs for a 5-0 lead. All runs in the inning were unearned. For the second game in a row, NJCU committed two errors in the opening inning.
 
In the second inning, Stefanelli had a one-out ground-rule double to left center and scored on a single by Mains (6-0). Scheiwiller followed with an RBI single. With two outs, a roller to short should have ended the inning but a throwing error extended the inning and allowed two more runs to score for a 9-0 advantage.
 
In the third, NYU added two more runs. Damiani and Stefanelli singled back-to-back and after a walk loaded the bases, Schwein doubled down the left field line for two more runs (11-0).
 
Squeo hit her second career homer over the center field fence in the fourth. In the bottom of the inning, Sturm led off with NYU's second ground-rule double of the game and Schmus hit a high pinch-hit homer to left for a 13-1 advantage.
 
#KnightNotes:

• All-Time Series with NYU: Third and fourth meetings. NYU leads, 3-1.

 
What's Next?:
NJCU will close the 2016 campaign—its 36th season of intercollegiate softball— on Saturday, April 30 at 4 p.m. in a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader at Rutgers University-Camden on April 30 in Camden, N.J.