JERSEY CITY, N.J. - The New Jersey City University softball team hosted a non-conference doubleheader against John Jay College today, April 11, at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex. The Gothic Knights defeated the Bloodhounds 8-1 in game one behind an explosive third inning and a strong performance in the circle by senior righty Emily Tunney (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest), who pitched all seven innings and notched six strikeouts. In game two, senior righty Sidnie Dabbadie (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs) got the start in the circle, and only allowed four hits and one earned run in four innings pitched, while also recording six strikeouts. Despite the Bloodhounds jumping out to a four run lead in the second game, the Gothic Knights were able to rally back and cut the deficit to one, but unfortunately could not complete the comeback as John Jay would take the second game 7-3. 

Game 1:
NJCU (7-14) gave up the first run of the day in the first inning to John Jay (15-5). That would be the only run that Tunney (1-1) would give up en-route to her first win of the year. The Gothic Knights didn't get going until the third inning, but exploded for six runs on six hits in the frame. With two outs and sophomore outfielder Natalie Rosales (Union City, N.J./Jose Marti STEM Academy) on first, she would steal second to put the Green and Gold in scoring position. That then set up Tunney to hit a double, scoring the former to tie the game for the latter's sixth RBI of the season. Freshman outfielder Alonah Olden (Lake George, N.Y./Lake George) would reach on a walk, while Tunney simultaneously stole third. Olden stole second on the next batter, and that Gothic Knight would be junior indfielder Jordan Mendolla (Jersey City, N.J./Hudson Catholic), who layed down a bunt to reach base, allowing Tunney to score to take the lead while also moving Olden to third. With runners still on the corners, junior catcher Abby Castro (Clifton, N.J./Passaic County Tech) knocked in both with a double of her own to extend NJCU's lead to 4-1. The Green and Gold were not done scoring yet, as senior catcher Mariah Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) also reached base and would advance to second on a Bloodhounds throw while advancing Castro to third. The final scores of the inning would come across via senior designated player Hailey Mojica (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) delivering the third Green and Gold extra-base hit of the frame, scoring both runners to give the Gothic Knights a 6-1 lead. Mojica would be thrown out at third trying to make her double a triple, ending what would be the highest scoring inning of the afternoon for either team.

Another pair of Green and Gold runs came across in the fourth inning. The Gothic Knights capitalized on a Bloodhound error to score their seventh run, and the eighth would come two batters later as Olden layed down a bunt and scored a runner from third. As mentioned, NJCU held John Jay scoreless after giving up the early run in the first, and went on to win the first game 8-1.

Game 2:
John Jay took the first lead of the second game, and like NJCU in the first, got their offense going in the middle innings. With John Jay leading 4-0 after the top of the fourth, NJCU rallied with three runs in the home half to cut the deficit to one. Freshman infielder Emma Grochowski (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) hit a three-run double for the first extra-base hit of her career and her first RBI's in the Green and Gold. The Gothic Knights only managed to score in the fourth inning, ultimately falling to the Bloodhounds by a score of 7-3 to split the series. Grochoswki finished her first career start as a Gothic Knight with two doubles and three RBI's in game two. Tunney also notched two extra-base hits in the second game, a double and triple, and extended her current hit streak to four games.

Up Next:
The Green and Gold will be on the road Saturday, April 11, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader against Rutgers-Newark. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.