JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The New Jersey City University softball team hosted another home doubleheader at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex on Saturday, March 26. The Gothic Knights held the advantage in both contests and came away with a pair of wins to make it six straight victories.
 
Game 1: NJCU 1, Hunter 0
It was a true pitchers' dual for NJCU (7-9) and Hunter (1-6) in the first one as sophomore right-hander Sidnie Dabbadie (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs) notched yet another double-digit strikeout performance – her third of the year – for her fifth complete game of the season and fourth victory.
 
The Hawks notched the first hit of the game with a leadoff single in the top of the first – the runner reached second on the throw – but Dabbadie settled down. Senior shortstop Alissa Bikowski (South Amboy, N.J./South Amboy) led off the next half inning with a single and then classmate Katherine Ayala (Jersey City, N.J./University Academy Charter) moved her to second with a sac bunt. Unfortunately, NJCU was unable to put one across and we were scoreless through one.
 
Neither squad recorded a hit until hunter led off the top of the fourth with a bunt single, but that was the extent of the damage. The first real scare of the day on either side came in the next half inning where, with two outs, freshman designated player Abby Castro (Clifton, N.J./Passaic County Tech) hit a single to left with two outs and the made it to second on an error. Next, junior second baseman Hailey Mojica (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) reached on an error at first, putting runners on the corners. Unfortunately, a groundout ended the inning.
 
Finally, in the bottom of the sixth, the damage was done. Senior first baseman Emma Herrick (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) led off with a single to shallow right and then moved to second on a sac bunt from Dabbadie. Freshman Victoria Devoto (Ridgefield, N.J./Immaculate Conception) came in to pinch run for Herrick and then advanced to second as sophomore left fielder Emily Tunney (Mays Landing, N.J./Oak Crest) reached on an error on short. Castro then grounded into a fielder's choice to put runners on the corners with two outs. At last, Mojica worked her way into a run-scoring single up the middle to give NJCU the only run it needed in game one.
 
The Hawks made it interesting in the top of the seventh, using a leadoff double to put a runner into scoring position. After a couple of outs, an infield single put runners on the corners and Dabbadie needed a strikeout to nail it down – which she did.
 
Game 2: NJCU 7, Hunter 6
The Green and Gold exploded to start off this game, putting up seven runs in the home half of the first inning, including five doubles – four back-to-back – all with two outs. Herrick started it off with a double to right – she was initially called out on the tag, but the umpires reversed their call. Then, sophomore pitcher Sam Miller (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) brought her home with a double to center field. Up next, Tunney cracked a double to the gap in right to score Miller, followed by a RBI double down the line in left from Castro.
 
Mojica then reached on a single through the right side to put runs on the corners and later advanced to second on a wild pitch. Freshman designated player Mya Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) walked to load the bases and her sister, sophomore Maria Villanueva – playing third in this one – knocked in a two-run double to left to make it 5-0. After a quick pitching change, Bikowski reached on a throwing error at short to force in two more runs and make it 7-0. This would be the only offensive outburst of the game for NJCU, who had to defend its lead for the remainder.
 
Hunter scored three runs of its own in the top of the third on a couple of doubles, as well, to make it a four-run game once again. After a couple more scoreless innings, the Hawks scratched one more across in the top of the sixth to make it 7-4. Finally, looking to close out the game and the sweep, the Gothic Knights looked to get through the top of the seventh unscathed, clinging to a three-run lead. After a leadoff walk, a single put runners on the corners. A wild pitch followed, making it 7-5 with a runner on second. Another walk then loaded the bases. Then, still with no outs, a single through the left side made it a one-run game. Fortunately, Miller – who tossed the complete game for her third win of the season – settled down at the right time and got three straight outs, including an inning-ending strikeout, to seal it.
 
Up Next:
Jersey City returns to action for the rare single-header (just one game) at home on Tuesday afternoon, March 29. The Gothic Knights host John Jay College for a 3:00 p.m. first pitch at the Gerrity. The teams last met in 2019 and they split a pair.