JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University scored four runs in the third inning of game one to claim a 5-2 non-conference softball victory but Farmingdale State College answered with five runs in the first inning of the nightcap as the schools split the first doubleheader between them in 12 years on April 13. The host Rams won the second game, 11-3, in five innings.
 
With the split, Farmingdale State is 14-12 while NJCU, which snapped an eight-game losing streak in the opener, is 8-12. The game two win was Farmingdale's first win over the Gothic Knights in seven meetings.
 
GAME 1: New Jersey City 5, Farmingdale State 2
Freshman second baseman Caralynne Rivera (Brick, NJ/Kearny) (Brick, N.J./Kearny) had a two-run single in the third inning when the Gothic Knights sent eight batters to the plate and the Knights outhit FSC, 9-6, in the three-run victory.
 
NJCU added a single run in the fifth and sophomore right-handed pitcher Christina Mezey (Jersey City, NJ/Saint Dominic Academy) (Jersey City, N.J./Saint Dominic Academy) shutout the Rams for the final six innings. Mezey went 7.0 innings, allowing just two runs and six hits, striking out six (two walks) for her fifth win. She also scored twice and walked once in a 1-for-2 game.
 
Rivera was 2-for-3 with the two RBIs, a double, walk and run scored for NJCU while sophomore third baseman Hannah Gavin (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown) (Bordentown, N.J./Bordentown) returned to the lineup after missing Tuesday's doubleheader, and batted 2-for-2 with one RBI.
 
Sophomore left-handed pitcher Alexa Luna (Martin County, Fla) and senior left fielder Allison Dailey (Commack, N.Y.) were each 2-for-3 with a run scored. Luna was the losing pitcher (4-3), walking four against two K's.
 
After FSC struck first in the opening inning on an RBI single by sophomore shortstop Christina Rayfield (Commack, N.Y.), NJCU answered with four runs on four hits in the third. Mezey walked, freshman center fielder Alanis Concepcion (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) (Nutley, N.J./Nutley) singled and junior left fielder Julie Squeo (Carlstadt, NJ/Becton Regional) (Carlstadt, N.J./Becton Regional) walked to load the bases with one out. Rivera came to the plate and lifted a two-out single down the left field line for a 2-1 advantage. Senior designated player Brianna Rosario (Roselle, N.J./Abraham Clark) and Gavin each added RBI singles to add the third and fourth runs.
 
The Knights added another run in the fourth when Mezey doubled with one out and scored on an RBI single by junior right fielder Melissa Mendoza (Union City, NJ/Union City) (Union City, N.J./Union City). Mezey retired the Rams in order in the fourth and sixth innings before stranding two on base to end the game.
 
GAME 2: Farmingdale State 11, New Jersey City 3 (5 innings)
In the nightcap, FSC scored five runs in the first for a 5-1 lead, then reeled off four more in the second for a commanding margin. Two runs in the fourth set up the decisive margin. The Rams had a 14-8 cushion in hits.
 

The big blows for FSC were back-to-back extra-base hits in the first. After a walk and single, sophomore third baseman Sierra Cardenales (Patchogue, N.Y.) drove in two runs with a double and senior first baseman Lori Michalowski (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) followed with a two-run homer. Senior second baseman Marietta Silliman (Hauppauge, N.Y.) added an RBI triple in the second while freshman catcher Shannon Griffin (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) doubled in a run to make it a 9-2 lead.
 
In the loss, Squeo was 2-for-3 with two runs and two extra-base hits (double, triple). Senior first baseman/right-handed pitcher Brittany Paulikas (Fords, NJ/JFK-Iselin) (Ford, N.J./John F. Kennedy Memorial) was 2-for-3 with an RBI.
 
Five different players had two hits for FSC. Cardenales was 2-for-2 with two RBIs while senior right fielder Breanna Susa (Bay Shore, N.Y.) had two RBIs and two runs, batting 2-for-3. Silliman scored twice (2-for-3, one RBI), Michalowski added two RBIs and two runs scored and Rayfield and Griffin each batted 2-for-3. Luna walked and scored twice, playing centerfield in the second game.
 
Sophomore righty Jaxie Collard (Deer Park, N.Y.) won for the Rams (6-7). She allowed three runs and eight hits with no walks or strikeouts. Mezey took the loss, throwing the first inning.
 
NJCU got on the board first in the opening inning when Squeo doubled and scored on an RBI single by Rosario. NJCU added a second run in the second inning on an error after consecutive singles. Squeo tripled with one out in the fifth and scored on an RBI single by Paulikas.
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: First meeting since April 12, 2005 in Jersey City. NJCU leads the series, 6-1.
• Brittany Paulikas (Fords, NJ/JFK-Iselin) now has 87 career hits.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
NJCU heads to Glassboro, N.J. on Saturday, April 15 for a New Jersey Athletic Conference against 2016 NCAA Division III World Series qualifier Rowan University. The Profs enter the doubleheader ranked No. 5 nationally in the most recent National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Top 25 poll, and with a 25-3 record and 6-2 in the NJAC.