NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — For the first time since
2019 — and just the ninth time in program history — a New Jersey City University softball pitcher has tossed a no-hitter. The Gothic Knights closed out play at the FastPitch Dreams Spring Classic on Tuesday, March 7, with a pair of games. NJCU split the two, including dominating Clarks Summit University 8-0 in five innings, highlighted by a walk-off double and junior right-hander
Sidnie Dabbadie's (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs) first-career no-hitter. The California native also impressive at the plate over the two games, going 4-for-4 with two RBI, two runs and the first home run of her career (and an inside-the-park one at that).
Game 1: Gwynedd Mercy 17, NJCU 3 (5 innings)
The top half of the day's action was a tough one for the Gothic Knights (2-4) as things got away from them quickly against Gwynedd Mercy College (4-0). The Griffins plated seven runs in the bottom of the first before scoring eight more in the bottom of the third. NJCU did score on in the top of the second as Dabbadie led off with a single, followed by a walk from sophomore
Jaelynn Barrios (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) before junior
Mariah Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) singled up the middle to score Dabbadie from second. Jersey City also had a rally in the top of the fourth to score twice more. Dabbadie again led off with a single, followed two at-bats later by a single again from Villanueva. Junior
Kate Herman (Fords, N.J./East Brunswick Votech) then loaded the bases with a single. Rookie
Fran Polanco (Union City, N.J./Union City) notched the second RBI of her career with a subsequent fielder's choice before junior
Emily Tunney (Mays Landing, N.J./Oak Crest) singled home pinch-runner sophomore
Lisbet Bernabe (Passaic, N.J./Passaic) from third.
Game 2: NJCU 8, Clarks Summit 0 (5 innings)
Dabaddie was not the only offensive highlight in this one as sophomore
Abby Castro (Clifton, N.J./Passaic County Tech) finished with a strong performance at the plate, going 2-for-3 with three RBI, a double, a stolen base and scored twice. Dabbadie, who was 2-for-2 with two RBI, a run, was hit by a pitch and had that inside-the-park dinger, struck out seven Defenders (1-2) in the circle during her no-hitter for her second win of the season.
Scoring began in the home half of the first as Tunney started off by reaching safely on an error at second. Castro immediately plated her with a double to left to make it 1-0. With two outs and Castro at third, Dabbadie smacked a roller down the line in right and it went all the way to the corner, which enabled her to eventually come all the way around to make it 3-0. The bottom of the second saw NJCU put up for more runs to make it 7-0. With two outs and the bases loaded, Castro took advantage once again with a single through the right side to score two runs. She then stole second to put herself in scoring position — alongside Tunney at third — before junior
Sam Miller (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) knocked in two runs with a single up the middle.
Both teams went scoreless for the next two-and-a-half innings, bringing the game to the bottom of the fifth with the Green and Gold leading, 7-0. Dabbadie led off by getting plunked for a free base. Bernabe — also a member of NJCU's women's track & field program — came in as a pinch runner. Barrios came up next and drilled a double down the third-base line and the speedy Bernabe scampered all the way home from first to give Jersey City the walk-off, 8-0 win in the bottom of the fifth.
Highlights:
- Castro finished the day 4-for-6 with three RBI, two runs, a double and a stolen base.
- Villanueva was 2-for-4 with a RBI, as well. Tunney went a combined 2-for-5 with two runs and a RBI.
- Dabbadie's ERA drops back down to 1.09 and her stellar WHIP sits at 0.88. She's struck out a whopping 27 batters over 19.1 innings, which leads the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC).
Up Next:
The Gothic Knights are slated to return to action on Saturday, March 18, at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex for the first time the season with a doubleheader against Baruch College, beginning at 1:00 p.m. NJCU has won 11 of the last 14 against the Bearcats, including a split last season at the Gerrity.
