UNION, N.J. — The New Jersey City University softball team earned a hard-fought road New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) doubleheader split at Kean University on Tuesday, April 18. Thanks in part to a complete game career-high 12-strikeout shutout from junior pitcher Sidnie Dabbadie (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs) in game one, NJCU has now won multiple conference games in a single season for the first time since 2013.

Game 1: NJCU 1, Kean 0
As mentioned, Dabbadie put the Gothic Knights (11-16, 2-9 NJAC) on her back in this one, limiting the Cougars (20-12, 5-7 NJAC) to just three hits in her game-one, 1-0 victory. She struck out 12 batters, which ties her career mark as she tossed 7.0 shutout innings on 104 pitches for her eighth victory of the season. Dabbadie now has a career-best 108 strikeouts on the season and 226 for her career.

Jersey City's lone — and game-winning — run in this one came in the top of the third. Freshman centerfielder Natalie Rosales (Union City, N.J./Jose Marti STEM Academy) led off the inning by reaching on an error. Despite that, junior second base Emily Tunney (Mays Landing, N.J./Oak Crest) hit a double to the gap in right two at-bats later to plate Rosales all the way from first to make it 1-0, which is how the game would end.

Game 2: Kean 7, NJCU 1
The second half of the doubleheader did not go as well for the Green and Gold, as they lost by a six-run margin. Despite that, the hot-hitting Tunney went 2-for-3 with a run and a stolen base, while Dabbadie and junior Sam Miller (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) were each 1-for-3, with the former adding a RBI and the latter chalking up a double. Sophomore first base Jaelynn Barrios (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) was also 1-for-3. Dabbadie started the game and got the loss, while Miller tossed 2.0 strong innings in relief, allowing one earned.

Up Next:
NJCU returns to action for a home non-conference doubleheader at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex on Thursday, April 20, against Hunter College beginning at 3:00 p.m.