MORRISTOWN, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | It has been three frustrating weeks since the New Jersey City University softball team saw the field for live action but the Gothic Knights showed no rust in their second 'season debut'. Senior first baseman/right-handed pitcher Brittany Paulikas (Ford, N.J./John F. Kennedy Memorial) was 2-for-4 with two RBIs in each game and was the dominant winner in relief in game two as NJCU swept a non-conference doubleheader from the College of Saint Elizabeth, 8-1 and 7-5, on March 30.
 
NJCU improved to 7-3 overall, outhitting the Screaming Eagles a combined 27-8 in the two games. Freshman second baseman Caralynne Rivera (Brick, N.J./Kearny) had three doubles on the day, junior left fielder Julie Squeo (Carlstadt, N.J./Becton Regional) tripled twice and freshman first baseman/catcher Kayla Clarke (East Rutherford, N.J./Becton Regional) homered in a strong effort. The Knights rallied from a 5-1 deficit to win game one over CSE (3-11).
 
Game 1: New Jersey City 8, St. Elizabeth 1
NJCU scored three in the top of the second inning to claim a 3-1 lead and added four runs in the fourth, outhitting the Eagles 14-3 in a convincing 8-1 rout. NJCU tallied five extra-base hits in the win.
 
Clarke had a breakout effort, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs, two runs, a two-run homer and a double. Paulikas was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Rivera was 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored. Freshman center fielder Alanis Concepcion (Nutley, N.J./Nutley) had two hits.
 
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Christina Mezey (Jersey City, N.J./Saint Dominic Academy) batted 3-for-4 with two runs. In the circle she improved to 4-2 overall, allowing one run and just three hits in 7.0 innings. She was wild (seven walks, three wild pitches) but it didn't hurt her and she fanned five batters.
 
Game 2: New Jersey City 7, St. Elizabeth 5
St. Elizabeth led 5-1 after one inning before NJCU tied it with three runs in the fifth and plated two go-ahead runs in the sixth to prevail by two. Paulikas entered in relief in the fourth and was brilliant, allowing just two hits in 4.0 shutout innings, striking out two. Paulikas tied the game with an RBI double in the fifth.
 
Tied 5-5 in the sixth, Clarke led off with a double to left and scored on a one-out RBI triple to right center by Squeo, who later scored on a wild pitch for a key insurance run.
 
Paulikas was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Concepcion batted 3-for-4 with two runs. Squeo scored twice, going 2-for-3 with the game-winning RBI. Rivera was 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI.