NEWARK, N.J. — For the first time since 2009, the New Jersey City University softball program has won at least three games in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play. The Gothic Knights today, Saturday, April 13, squared off with Rutgers-Newark for a pair of games on the road and defeated the Scarlet Raiders in both, 4-1 in game one and an 11-2 five-inning victory in game two.

The doubleheader sweep marks the first in NJAC play for the Green and Gold (9-14, 3-7 NJAC) since 2012 and the second game was the first win via an eight-run mercy rule in conference competition since April 13, 2009, once again against RU-Newark (5-19, 3-7 NJAC).

Game 1: NJCU 4, Rutgers-Newark 1
The Gothic Knights got ahead early in the top of the first. Rookie outfielder Alonah Olden (Lake George, N.Y./Lake George) started it off with a one-out double to center and then scored in the next at-bat as senior catcher Mariah Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) singled up the middle for a run to make it 1-0. Senior righthander Sidnie Dabbadie (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs) then came in and mowed down Rutgers-Newark's top of the order with three strikeouts.

The Scarlet Raiders tied it up on a bases loaded hit by pitch in the bottom of the second, making it 1-1. NJCU struck again in the top of the third, taking a 2-1 lead. Senior shortstop Emily Tunney (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest) led off with an infield single and advanced to second on a groundout. With two outs, Tunney stole third and then junior designated player Abby Castro (Clifton, N.J./Passaic County Tech) brought her home with a run-scoring single.

Olden got things going again in the top of the fifth, leading off with a single to the gap in left. She got to second on a wild pitch. Later on with two outs, the rookie crossed the plate on an error, making it 3-1. Junior second baseman Jordan Mendolla (Jersey City, N.J./Hudson Catholic) then led off the sixth with a walk and followed by stealing second. A sac bunt from freshman Shannon McGuire (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun) moved Mendolla to third and then Tunney hit a RBI groundout to make it 4-1.

Overall, Dabbadie tossed the complete game, allowing one run on two hits with five strikeouts for her team-leading fifth win of the season. She also dropped her ERA to 3.36 over 66.2 innings pitched this season. The California native has 69 strikeouts in 2024 and 333 for her career.

Game 2: NJCU 11, Rutgers-Newark 2 (5 innings)
Senior righthander Sam Miller (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) had the most dominant NJAC start of her career in this one, tossing 5.0 innings without allowing an earned run — she also struck out one — and is now 2-7 in the circle with a 3.43 ERA this season. The Gothic Knights once again got ahead first, scoring one in the top of the first. Tunney started things with a single to lead off and then got to second on a passed ball. She then scored on a RBI single to the gap in right from Mariah Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic), making it 1-0.

The Scarlet Raiders scored two runs in the home half, both unearned, on three hits and two NJCU errors to take a 2-1 lead. After a scoreless second, the Green and Gold exploded for three runs in the top of the third. Mariah Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) led off with a walk and then got to second as junior first baseman Jaelynn Barrios (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) singled next. Junior third baseman Mya Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) made it 2-2 with a one-run single up the middle to plate her sister. With two outs and runners on second and third, junior outfielder Cheyenn Fulton (Jersey City, N.J./Hudson Catholic) hit a two-run double down the line in right, making it 4-2.

After that, NJCU did one better — actually four better — by scoring SEVEN runs in the top of the fourth to blow it open at 11-2. Tunney led off with a bunt single and then got to second after beating the throw on Olden's at-bat — the freshman reached on the play, as well. Mariah Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) loaded the bases next on a bunt single of her own. Following a pitching change, the Gothic Knights got a two-run single from Castro to make it 6-2. A wild pitch next allowed Villanueva to score, making it 7-2.

Barrios followed with a single to put runners on the corners as Mya Villanueva (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) then smacked a double to the gap in right, making it 8-2. Another pitching change was followed by a single from Mendolla, scoring another run to make it 9-2. Senior Hailey Mojica (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) pinch hit next and made it 10-2 with a double down the line, followed by a run-scoring double from Tunney to plate Mojica, closing it out at 11-2.

Highlights:
- Fulton went a combined 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a walk.
- Tunney finished 4-for-8 with three runs, a double, two RBI and a stolen base in the doubleheader.
- Mariah went 3-for-7 with two runs, two RBI and a walk, while Mya was also 3-for-7, scoring once with a double, two RBI and a walk.
- Mendolla registered a 2-for-5 day at the plate, scoring twice with a RBI, walk, sac bunt and a stolen base.

Up Next:
NJCU returns to action on Tuesday afternoon, April 16, for a home NJAC doubleheader at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex against Montclair State University. Game one is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.