JERSEY CITY, N.J. | For the final time in New Jersey City University's (NJCU) history, the softball team stepped onto its home diamond. In the finale, the Gothic Knights split with the Bulldogs of Brooklyn College, 4-3, 5-8 on senior day. Before the games, the Gothic Knights honored their two seniors, Emily Andrade (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany) and Natalie Rosales (Union City, N.J./Jose Marti STEM Academy).
Game 1: NJCU 4, Brooklyn 3
NJCU (7-30) used eight hits to plate its four runs in the win. Danika Borza (Keyport, N.J./Keyport) (3-8) pitched a complete game from the circle with three strikeouts. At the plate, Emma Hanlon (Highland, N.Y./Highland) (2-for-4) and Arianna Figueroa (Jersey City, N.J./Hudson Catholic Regional) (2-for-2, 1 RBI) led the charge.
Brooklyn (12-23) tallied 10 hits, led by two from Corcoran. In the circle, Dhanraj (6-12) pitched a complete game with four walks.
It was the Bulldogs who struck first in the game, plating a run in the top of the second on an infield single. NJCU responded in the bottom of the next frame with a pair of runs to leapfrog Brooklyn for the lead. The two-run rally began when Borza reached via an error to score A. Figueroa. Borza wouldn't remain on the bags long as Jaeda Figueroa (Jersey City, N.J./Hudson Catholic) laid down a perfect bunt to bring home Borza.
With the lead in hand, the Gothic Knights padded their lead with a run in the sixth, thanks to an RBI single by A. Figueroa. That lead, however, wouldn't hold as Brooklyn plated two runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game up at three.
J. Figueroa stared down a full count and was hit by a pitch to put herself on the bases before Maggie Martin (Spring Lake Heights, N.J./Manasquan) hit a walk-off double to give NJCU their third win in a row.
Game 2: Brooklyn 8, NJCU 5
NJCU (7-31) edged out Brooklyn 11-9 in hits, but had struggles in the field with six errors. Elyze Lopez (Reseda, Calif./John F. Kennedy) (2-7) pitched two innings and allowed five runs, zero earned. Borza finished 3-for-4 at the dish with an RBI while J. Figueroa (2-for-2) and Rosales (2-for-4) finished with multiple hits each.
Brooklyn (13-23) was led by Corcoran and Burleigh who tallied two hits each. In the circle, Bowe (7-7) allowed one earned run on 11 hits with two walks.
NJCU struck first in game two when Borza tattooed a pitch over the left field wall for her first career home run to put NJCU ahead, 1-0. The Bulldogs quickly leveled the game with a run in the next frame before going ahead in the third when they plated another run.
Brooklyn's lead didn't hold as the Gothic Knights exploded for a four run inning to grab hold of the lead. Martin once again showed up in clutch time with a 2 RBI single to left center before Emma Grochowski (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) brought in two more runs with a double to left field.
The Bulldogs remained within striking distance after they scored their third consecutive run. A disastrous sixth inning for the Gothic Knights allowed Brooklyn to plate five runs and steal the lead, and eventually the win from the Gothic Knights.
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