HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – The New Jersey City University softball team resumed action on the road, Thursday, April 13, as the squad faced Centenary University. The Gothic Knights lost the first game late 3-1, but brought out the bats game two, as NJCU won 12-10.

GAME ONE:
Jersey City (10-14) saw junior pitcher Sidnie Dabbadie (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs) take the circle as she continued her strong junior campaign. Dabbadie was lights out, as she opened up the game striking out the side against Centenary (12-12). This inning led to her eventual 10 total strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work and she has now achieved 10 or more strikeouts for the fourth time this season.

Unfortunately for NJCU, despite a strong performance from Dabbadie, the bats were silent in the first game, as NJCU was unable to score a run until the seventh inning. NJCU had a chance in the top of the second to take the lead after sophomores third baseman Mya Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) and first baseman Jaelynn Barrios (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) hit back-to-back singles with two outs, but ultimately they were stranded. Centenary led 1-0 after the third inning after an error late in the inning played a role in giving up the run. In the top of the fourth NJCU again had a chance to tie the game up, as both junior designated player Sam Miller (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) and Villanueva singled again with two outs.

Unfortunately, bad luck struck again, as junior outfielder Nicole Weinbel (Clifton, N.J./Clifton) who pinch ran for Miller was seemingly on her way home to tie up the game after Barrios roped a single down the middle to centerfield, but an excellent relay nailed Weinbel just in time at home, denying NJCU a run. The score remained 1-0 after four innings of play.

In the top of the sixth, junior second baseman Mariah Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) started off the inning with a single putting an early runner on base. Unfortunately it again led to nothing, as two pitches later she was erased via of a double play. Centenary added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth making it 3-0 with NJCU getting its last chance in the seventh.

In the top of the inning, Weinbel reached on an error, and eventually crossed the plate after Villanueva produced her third hit of the game making the score 3-1. Unfortunately though for NJCU a couple of fielder's choices on hard hit ground balls ended the game sealing the win for Centenary.

Highlights:
- With her three hits in game one, Mya Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) produced her first three-hit game of her career.
- Barrios's two hit game got her back on track as she ended her brief 1-for-11 slump as she had an excellent first game.
- Despite earning the loss, Dabbadie only allowed one earned run, pitching excellent in her complete 6.0 innings of work as she now has pitched 75.2 innings and is one strikeout away from earning 100 on the season, as she currently sits at 99.

GAME TWO:
Game two saw a much different outcome, as NJCU brought out the bats early in the second game. Freshman pitcher Yavely Marrero (Perth Amboy, N.J./Perth Amboy) got the start for the Gothic Knights as she had early run support after Miller brought home Mariah Villenueva off a throwing error from the pitcher making the score 1-0. Unfortunately the lead was short as Centenary scored two runs to answer back in the bottom of the inning making it 2-1.

NJCU, though, answered back strongly in the second as the bats came to life forcing the Centenary defense to make multiple mistakes in the inning. First, Marrero helped her cause by singling to open up the inning. Then, sophomore outfielder Lisbet Bernabe (Passaic, N.J./Passaic) walked after, setting up freshman outfielder Natalie Rosales (Union City, N.J./Jose Marti STEM Academy) who singled to load up the bases. The first mistake from Centenary's defense came two batters later as junior infielder Emily Tunney (Mays Landing, N.J./Oak Crest) brought home two runs off of a fielding error to short, putting NJCU back on top 3-2. After, Mariah Villaneuva also capitalized on an error to short, as she scored Tunney and Rosales adding on another two runs allowing NJCU to take a 5-2 lead after the first inning and a half.

Marrero buckled down in the second providing a quick inning, but faltered late in the third as Centenary tacked on two runs cutting the score to 5-4, as Tunney came in to relieve. Tunney turned out to be just what NJCU needed after a tough first game, as she provided longevity for NJCU. Despite allowing five runs to cross the plate, with most of those runs coming across early in relief, she gave NJCU a fighting chance to win.

NJCU plated another run in the fourth, as sophomore catcher Abby Castro (Clifton, N.J./Passaic County Tech) brought home Tunney on a ground ball putting NJCU up 6-4. Though NJCU led all the way to the halfway point, the tough inning for Tunney came in the bottom of the fourth as Centenary provided a strong three run inning taking the lead 7-6. They added one more run in the fifth, but the turning point came as the bats again came to life for the Gothic Knights.

Tunney helped her cause with a triple to open up the inning, and scored via a Mariah Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) RBI single making the score 8-7. Castro then walked, eventually setting up the hot hitting Mya Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) who produced her biggest hit of the day despite a three hit game one, as she roped a double to center field scoring Castro and Mariah Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) to take the lead back 9-8. After NJCU tacked on more support, Barrios then followed up with a double scoring Myah Villanueva. NJCU's last run of the inning came by virtue of an error as for the third time an error at short made the score 11-8.

Centenary did not go out quietly though, as they tallied two more runs in the bottom of the sixth making it a one run game 11-10. NJCU though scored a crucial insurance run with its last ups in the top of the seventh, as Centenary's ninth error of the game made the score 12-10 NJCU. Tunney closed things out quickly in the bottom of the seventh, sealing the win for NJCU and ultimately did enough to pick up her first win in the circle of the season.

Highlights:
- Tunney earned her first win since March 29 of last season against John Jay College, where she pitched a complete game on her way to victory.
- Despite a sloppy defensive game from Centenary, NJCU tallied double digit hits with Tunney, Mariah Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic), Marrero, and Rosales tallying multi hit games.
- Both Villanueva sisters combined for an excellent day, as they combined for a 7-for-16 day and six RBI.

UP NEXT:
The Gothic Knights return back home Saturday, April 15, as they host Stockton University to resume New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play. First pitch, weather pending, is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. with the second game to follow. NJCU looks to turn the tables against Stockton as last season they were outscored by the Ospreys.