JERSEY CITY, N.J. — For the first time in 10 years, the New Jersey City University softball program squared off with Stevens Institute of Technology in the Battle of Hudson County on Tuesday, March 19, as the Gothic Knights hosted the Ducks at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex for a non-conference twin-bill. After a quick game one, which saw Stevens come out on top 4-0 in a pitchers' dual, the Green and Gold used a dramatic comeback in the bottom of the seventh of game two to walk it off for the victory, 5-4, and split the doubleheader for their first win over the Ducks since 2013.

Game 1: Stevens 4, NJCU 0
It looked as though, thanks to some miscues by Stevens (8-6) in the bottom of the first, that it was the Gothic Knights (3-6) who would strike first in this one. Junior shortstop Paola Calderon (Brooklyn, N.Y./John Adams) reached safely via a one-out error at second and eventually advanced to third with a wild pitch and passed ball. Unfortunately, she was unable to cross the plate as the Ducks worked out of the jam. It was Stevens then who got on the board in the next half inning via a wild pitch to make it 1-0. The road team did the rest of its damage in the top of the third, scoring a couple on a two-run single, followed by a one-run triple to make it 4-0.

NJCU threatened again in the bottom of the fifth as junior first base Jaelynn Barrios (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) — one of the two Gothic Knights with hits in this one — led off with a walk. Sophomore leftfielder Natalie Rosales (Union City, N.J./Jose Marti STEM Academy) followed with a one-out single to put two runners on. Junior rightfielder Genesis Suarez (Ozone Park, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) moved the runners over with a groundout to put two in scoring position. Unfortunately, a runner's interference during the next at-bat put an end to the inning, as well as the Jersey City's final rally of the game.

Game 2: NJCU 5, Stevens 4
Stevens once again got out ahead first in this one as the Ducks used a two-out rally and NJCU error to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Neither squad seriously threatened offensively until the bottom of the fourth when the Gothic Knights took their first lead of the day. Junior third base Mya Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) led off with a one-out walk — rookie Shannon McGuire (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun) came in as a pinch runner — and a single from Rosales followed to put two on. Barrios struck again, this time plating a run with a RBI single to right to tie it up. A sacrifice fly from junior second base Jordan Mendolla (Jersey City, N.J./Hudson Catholic) in the next at-bat plated Rosales from third to make it 2-1.

Both teams went scoreless for a couple more innings until NJCU added on another run to its lead in the home half of the sixth. Barrios once again reached via a one-out single and two at-bats later, junior centerfielder Cheyenn Fulton (Jersey City, N.J./Hudson Catholic) hit a double to the gap in right to put two runners in scoring position. A passed ball followed, allowing Barrios to score and make it 3-1. Looking to close it out, senior righthander Sam Miller (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) needed just three outs to seal it, however the Ducks got on the board for three runs to take the lead at 4-3, forcing NJCU to use the bottom of the seventh to make a comeback.

Senior shortstop Emily Tunney (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest) led off with a double down the line in left, followed quickly by a one-run single from junior catcher Abby Castro (Clifton, N.J./Passaic County Tech) to tie it back up at 4-4, guaranteeing the Gothic Knights more life. A subsequent fielding error put two runners on for NJCU in the next at-bat and Rosales laid down a sacrifice to put runners on second and third. Barrios followed with an infield single to third, loading the bases, before Mendolla drew the game-winning walk to force in the run from third.

Highlights:
- Barrios had a day at the plate, going 5-for-6 with a run scored, a RBI and a walk. She was also perfect in the field over 16 chances.
- Rosales was 2-for-6 on the day, scoring once and dropping down that key sac bunt in the bottom of the seventh.
- Castro was 2-for-7 with a run, a RBI and a stolen base.
- Miller was dominant in game two and picked up her first victory of the season, going the full 7.0 innings with one strikeout and two earned runs allowed.
- Senior righthander Sidnie Dabbadie (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs) was effective in game one, as well, also going 7.0 innings with six more strikeouts and four earned on six hits. She is just seven strikeouts short of 300 for her career.

Up Next:
NJCU returns to the Gerrity for its third straight series on Thursday, March 21, against Saint Elizabeth University. Game one of the doubleheader is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.