BRONX, N.Y. | The New Jersey City University (NJCU) softball squad used a late game rally in game two to complete the sweep of Lehman College on Wednesday afternoon.
Game 1: NJCU 3, Lehman 1
NJCU (5-30) secured its fifth win of the season behind a dominant five-strikeout performance by Maggie Martin (Spring Lake Heights, N.J./Manasquan) (2-15). At the dish, the Gothic Knights scattered eight hits led by Emma Hanlon (Highland, N.Y./Highland) (2-for-4), Natalie Rosales (Union City, N.J./Jose Marti STEM Academy) (2-for-3), and Elyze Lopez (Reseda, Calif./John F. Kennedy) (2-for-3).
Lehman (1-22) was held to four hits and tallied two errors in the field. Leilani Tejada led the Lightning with one hit and 1 RBI.
After two scoreless innings, the Lightning struck first, scoring a run in the bottom of the third thanks to an NJCU error. The Gothic Knights responded in the top of the next frame when Rosales scored Kiara Taylor (Berlin, Md./Stephen Decatur) on an infield single.
With the game knotted at one, NJCU plated two runs in the fifth behind Hanlon's RBI single to left field and Jaeda Figueroa's (Jersey City, N.J./Hudson Catholic) RBI double to center. With the lead in hand, Martin shut down Lehman to secure the win.
Game 2: NJCU 10, Lehman 9 (8 inn.)
NJCU (6-30) mounted a late-game rally to overcome Lehman in game two, using 14 hits to plate 10 runs. Danika Borza (Keyport, N.J./Keyport) (2-for-5, 1 RBI), Hanlon (2-for-3, 2 RBI), and J. Figueroa (2-for-4, 3 RBI) powered the Gothic Knights from the plate. Lopez (2-9) pitched a complete game with four strikeouts in the win.
Lehman (1-23) tallied 11 hits, led by Nicolle Swierczek's three.
The Lightning exploded for seven runs in the first two innings to take a 7-1 lead over the Gothic Knights. A sacrifice fly by Figueroa doubled NJCU's tally to cut the deficit down to five. Each team tallied two runs in the fifth before an RBI triple by Borza ignited the Gothic Knights' three-run rally to bring NJCU within two.
In the top of the seventh, Emily Cammarata (Matawan , N.J./Matawan Regional) hit an RBI double before Marisela Cardona (Avenel, N.J./Colonia) brought home the tying run to force extra innings. In the eighth, Hanlon's infield groundout would be all the Gothic Knights needed to complete the comeback over Lehman.
For the latest news, updates, and information on New Jersey City University Athletics, visit NJCUGothicKnights.com and follow the Gothic Knights on Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
