FORT MYERS, Fla. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | The  New Jersey City University softball dropped both games on day two of the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic on March 5, falling to Albion College, 11-1 in five innings, before losing a 7-2 decision to Drew University. Both games were played at the CenturyLink Complex Fields—spring training home of the Minnesota Twins. NJCU fell to 0-4 with the losses.
 
GAME 1: Albion 11, New Jersey City 1 (5 innings)
Leading 2-0, the Brits (2-3) scored five times in the top of the fourth then sealed it with a grand slam in the fifth. Albion had a 12-5 cushion in hits in the win.
 
Freshman shortstop Lauren Beougher (Merrill, Mich.) had the biggest hit—the fifth-inning grand slam to straight away center. She was 2-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs. Sophomore right fielder Savannah Spring (Waterford, Mich.) was 3-for-3 with three runs scored.
 
Also for the Brits, sophomore center fielder Angela Hoffsis (Bowling Green, Ohio) went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs and freshman left fielder Kelsie Vogleman (Huntington, Ind.) walked three times and scored twice. Freshman designated player Grace Connolly (Chicago, Ill.) had two RBIs in a 2-for-3 showing.
 
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Brianna Charron (Woodhaven, Mich.) allowed just one run and five hits with three strikeouts over 54 pitches. Sophomore righty Christina Mezey (Jersey City, NJ/Saint Dominic Academy) struck out four but walked six in the loss.
 
NJCU's lone run came in the fifth when freshman shortstop Dayanara Flores (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson Catholic via M.E.T.S. Charter) singled to knock in sophomore right fielder Arianna Scrimo (Kearny, NJ/Kearny), who led off with a single.
 
The Brits gained a 2-0 lead in the second on a two-out, two-run double by Hoffsis who was later thrown out trying to steal home. In the fourth, Vogleman had an RBI double and a two-run double by Connolly made it 10-0.
 
GAME 2: Drew 7, New Jersey City 2
Undefeated Drew (4-0) led 2-0 after one inning and put up five runs in the bottom of the third before withstanding several rally attempts by the Gothic Knights.
 
Flores was 2-for-4 with a triple, run scored and one RBI for the Knights. Freshman first baseman Adriana Rodriguez (Turnersville, N.J.) had three RBIs (1-for-3, one run) while senior outfielder Brooke Adams (Cedar Grove, N.J.) and senior center fielder Heather Ronchi (Leonia, N.J.) each had two hits and two runs scored.
 
Freshman Megan Hulmes (Hawthorne, N.J.), the fourth starter to win a game for Drew in four games, won her first collegiate start, allowing two runs (one earned) and six hits with four strikeouts and four walks over 99 pitches in 7.0 innings. Mezey suffered the loss for NJCU, striking out five versus nine walks.
 
Drew led 2-0 after one inning as Adams and Ronchi both singled before scoring on a double by Rodriguez. The Rangers loaded the bases with three straight singles to open the third inning before back-to-back-to-back walks forced in three runs and a 5-0 advantage. A sac fly and RBI single made it 7-0.
 
In the sixth, Flores singled to lead off the frame, remained on base after an error on a force play and stole home to break up the shutout. In the seventh, Flores tripled to right center to drive in Scrimo, who led off with a single. Flores was stranded at third to end the game.
 
NOTABLES:

• Series vs. Albion: Albion leads, 2-1, meeting in 2008, 2017 and 2018.
• Series vs. Drew: Drew leads, 19-2, and has won the last 19 meetings since 2001.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• After an off day on Tuesday, the Knights are back in action at the CenturyLink Complex on March 7 in games with Anna Maria College and Elms College.

 
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