JERSEY CITY, N.J. – After weather pushed game time back to Sunday, April 16, the New Jersey City University softball team resumed New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) action hosting the Stockton University Ospreys. In both games the Gothic Knights got off to early leads but ultimately fell 3-2 in the first game, and 10-2 in the second game.
GAME ONE:
Jersey City (10-16, 1-9 NJAC) opened things up consistently from the circle as junior pitcher Sidnie Dabbadie (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs) provided a quick inning, retiring the Ospreys (15-13, 7-3 NJAC) in order. In the bottom of the inning, Dabbadie got some run support as junior infielder Emily Tunney (Mays Landing, N.J./Oak Crest) opened up the offensive inning, ripping a double off the fence in right center field. Tunney moved over to third after a wild pitch, then scored after junior infielder Mariah Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) for the third straight game produced a hit with a runner in scoring position, as she ripped a single to make the score 1-0 NJCU. Sophomore catcher Abby Castro (Clifton, N.J./Passaic County Tech) walked next and both Castro and Villanueva were moved over two pitches later by virtue of a sacrifice bunt from Dabbadie. Junior designated player Sam Miller (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) came next, as she worked a hefty count, before bringing home Villanueva to make the score 2-0. The Ospreys escaped further damage, maintaining the deficit to exit the first inning.
Dabbadie resumed pitching duties in the second as despite getting into a bases loaded jam, she proceeded to strikeout the side maintaining the lead. NJCU threatened in the bottom of the second with singles from both sophomore first baseman Jaelynn Barrios (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) and freshman outfielder Yavely Marrero (Perth Amboy, N.J./Perth Amboy), but was denied off of great play from the Osprey's defense which told a strong story throughout the game. Dabbadie again retired the side in order in the third, but unfortunately was unable to get run support as the Gothic Knights faced some bad luck after Castro singled to lead off the inning. With two outs and Castro on second, Barrios ripped a screaming line drive into the right center field gap that seemed like it had extra bases written all over it, but Stockton's defense yet again made a diving play preventing a run from crossing, keeping the score at 2-0 NJCU after three.
It was at this point unfortunately for NJCU the momentum had shifted as the Ospreys capitalized huge in the fourth, as a two hit inning, including a triple and a crucial throwing error resulting in a run, saw the game get tied up at 2-2. Later, in the fifth unfortunately bad luck continued as Dabbadie's only earned run came in the second pitch of the inning, as Stockton drilled a homerun to take the lead for the first time in the game 3-2. NJCU continued to have chances to fight late as Barrios again found herself with a chance to bring home a runner in the fifth, but again found herself on the unfortunate side of the coin yet again, as she ripped a ball right to third to end the inning. NJCU had its last chance to tie the game in the seventh after Dabbadie led off with a single, but the final nail in the coffin came a batter later, as the Ospreys defense shined one last time, as Miller ripped a ball to deep center field that had extra bases written all over it, but the ball was just tracked down forcing pinch runner sophomore Victoria Devoto (Ridgefield, N.J./Immaculate Conception) to retreat to first. The game ended with a strikeout one at-bat later.
Game One Highlights:
- Despite the loss, Dabbadie again gave the club a winning chance, as she commands an outstanding 2.61 ERA, along with earning her 100th strikeout of the season in the first inning.
- With her two hit performance, for the first time in her career Mariah Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) tallied back to back multi-hit games.
- Despite the loss, one of the games most exciting moments came in the bottom of the second inning as a rare scenario occurred where Emily Tunney (Mays Landing, N.J./Oak Crest) found herself facing off against her sister Abigail of the Ospreys. Unfortunately for Emily, Abigail got the better of her, winning the battle of the Tunneys as she forced Emily to ground out to short, while moving over the runners.
GAME TWO:
Game two got off to a great start as Miller, who started the second game, got run support early after both Mariah Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) and Dabbadie ripped doubles making the score 1-0 NJCU. Unfortunately though for the Gothic Knights the tale of the second game came down to the Osprey's offense as Stockton tied the game up in the second, and then exploded for a four run third inning. NJCU was retired in order in both the second and third but found themselves trailing 5-2 after sophomore third base Mya Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) singled bringing home Dabbadie. Tunney relieved Miller in the third, but unfortunately found herself facing the same fate as Miller, as Stockton put an exclamation point on the board in the fifth, as they answered back with a five run top of the fifth inning.
NJCU needed a run to keep the game alive in the bottom of the fifth, but ultimately was retired in order sealing the game for Stockton for the run rule. Come games end, Stockton won by a final score of 10-2 in five innings.
UP NEXT:
The Gothic Knights return to action Tuesday afternoon, April 18, as they resume NJAC action taking on familiar foe of Kean University. The games will take place in Union, N.J. and first pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
