NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — The New Jersey City University softball team played a pair of games at the FastPitch Dreams Spring Classic on Monday, March 6. The Gothic Knights fell to Rochester University (Mich.) 14-2 in five innings before dropping a tight, 3-1 pitchers' dual to Alvernia University in the afternoon.

Game 1:
Five different Gothic Knights (1-3) reached base safely against the Warriors (1-1), led by sophomore Jaelynn Barrios (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) and junior Sidnie Dabbadie (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs). Barrios, who has started all four games at first base, went 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Dabbadie was 2-for-2 in the designated player spot. Additionally, freshman Yavely Marrero (Perth Amboy, N.J./Perth Amboy) and sophomores Abby Castro (Clifton, N.J./Passaic County Tech) and Mya Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) each went 1-for-3, with Marrero notching a RBI.

Game 2:
Jersey City hurler Dabbadie was dealing once again in this one against the Golden Wolves (2-0) and she finished with six strikeouts and two earned runs on six hits over 6.1 inning pitched. The first three innings were scoreless on both ends before Alvernia crossed the plate first in the home half of the fourth thanks to an error in the outfield, making it 1-0.

NJCU got that run back after some masterful lineup work in the top of the fifth. Barrious led off with a double to left and was advanced by a sacrifice bunt from junior Mariah Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic). With two outs, junior Sam Miller (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) came in to pinch hit and immediately sent a run-scoring double to the gap in right to plate Barrios.

The next four half innings were again scoreless, but Jersey City nearly got on the board in the top of the seventh as the squad had the bases loaded with just one out. However, a throw home on a fielder's choice followed by a strikeout kept the game at 1-1. The Golden Wolves eventually won the game on a one-out, walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh.

Highlights vs. Alvernia:
- Barrios was 2-for-3 again with a double and a run.
- Castro, Mya Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) and Dabbadie were all 1-for-3, with Castro notching a double, as well.
- The loss is Dabbadie's first non-conference defeat dating back to March 7, 2022.

Up Next:
NJCU returns to action for its third and final day in Myrtle Beach with two more games. The Gothic Knights first face Gwynedd Mercy College at 3:00 p.m., followed by Clarks Summit University at 7:00 p.m.