JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The New Jersey City University softball squad had its most successful home doubleheader in nearly five years today, Saturday, March 19. The Gothic Knights posted a pair of 3-1, seven-inning victories over Baruch College as they opened up home play at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex. The headliner on the day was a near-no-hitter by sophomore pitcher Sidnie Dabbadie (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs), who notched a career-high 12 strikeouts and did not allow a hit until late in the seventh inning of game one.
 
Game 1: NJCU 3, Baruch 1
Dabbadie cruised through the first three innings for NJCU (3-9), striking out seven of the nine batters she faced. The bottom of the third was the first opportunity for either side on the day when freshman Mya Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) smacked a one-out double to left center. Unfortunately, the next two Gothic Knight batters were unable to bring her home.
 
The California hurler continued to deal for Jersey City through the next two innings, notching four more strikeouts to bring NJCU to the bottom of the fifth. Dabbadie tried to help her own cause with a leadoff double. Villanueva eventually reached on a two-out walk, but again, the Green and Gold were unable to put runs on the board. After another scoreless inning in the top of the sixth for the Bearcats (6-2), NJCU finally broke through in the home half.
 
Senior Alissa Bikowski (South Amboy, N.J./South Amboy) led off with a single up the middle. Then, sophomore Sam Miller (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) came in to pinch hit, but reached on a fielder's choice, with Bikowski out at second. Sophomore Skylah Cartwright (Willingboro, N.J./Burlington County Tech) – who was initially pinch hit for – came back on as a pinch runner for Miller, and then proceeded to steal second. Sophomore Emily Tunney (Mays Landing, N.J./Oak Crest) then hit a ball right to the centerfielder, but it was dropped and she and Cartwright found themselves on second and third. Finally, senior captain Emma Herrick (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) knocked a run-scoring single through the left side to put NJCU up 1-0. Dabbadie then did contribute to her own effort in the circle with a one-run double up the middle to make it 2-0. Finally, with two outs, sophomore Mariah Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) dribbled an infield single to the space between the pitch and catcher, reaching safely while also allowing Herrick to score from third and make it 3-0.
 
Clinging to a no-hit bid, Dabbadie got the first batter in the top of the seventh to pop out to first. Then, with one out, the Bearcats notched their first hit of day with a double down the line in left. Then, with two outs, they broke up the shutout with a run-scoring single up the middle. All that being said, Dabbadie notched her third complete game of the season and second win of the year – and of her career – to drop her ERA down to 2.33 (currently fifth in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC)) and bring her strikeout total for the season up to 27.
 
Game 2: NJCU 3, Baruch 1
This one started out differently as the Bearcats manufactured a run in the top of the first and held that 1-0 lead until the bottom of the third. Tunney, who got the start for NJCU, weaved her way in and out of trouble over 3.0 innings pitched, but only allowed the one run. The Gothic Knights then chimed in to tie it up at 1-1 in the home half of the third. Freshman Victoria Devoto (Ridgefield, N.J./Immaculate Conception) reached on a one-out infield single to shortstop and then proceeded to steal second. Then, Tunney helped her own cause with a run-scoring double to center to tie it up.
 
The first two batters reached safely to start the fourth, so head coach Ashely Martinez went to her bullpen, calling on Miller and shifting Tunney into the outfield in order to keep her bat in the lineup. Immediately, Miller got the Bearcats to ground into a 4-6-3 double play, leaving just one runner on third with two outs. The inning would end in the next at-bat as the batter bunted. It was played by Mariah Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) at third, who looked to first but did not throw it. Instead, she went to tag the runner out from third to home – the Bearcat was called out for running out of the baseline for the third out.
 
NJCU then took the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Herrick led off with a single up the middle and then moved over to second thanks to a sacrifice bunt from Mya Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic). Junior Hailey Mojica (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) flied out to left next, moving Herrick over to third. Finally, Mariah Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) smacked a double to the gap in left to plate Herrick and put herself into scoring position as well. Freshman Lisbeth Bernabe (Passaic, N.J./Passaic) came in as a pinch runner and Miller brought her home with a single up the middle to close out the scoring at 3-1.
 
Miller was credited with the win – the first of her career – as she threw 4.0 innings, allowing just two hits with two strikeouts.
 
Highlights:
- Mariah Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) finished the day 2-for-6 with a double and two RBI.
- Herrick was also 2-for-6, scored twice and had a RBI.
- Devoto was 2-for-3 in game two, while Dabbadie was 2-for-3 in game one, notching two doubles and a RBI.
- Tunney was 2-for-6 on the day with two doubles and a RBI.
 
Up Next:
Jersey City continues its run of City of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) opponents on Wednesday afternoon, March 23, for a 4:30 p.m. doubleheader in Brooklyn against Brooklyn College. The squad then returns home for three games against CUNYAC foes – a doubleheader against Hunter College on Saturday, March 26, and one game against John Jay College on Tuesday, March 29.