Galloway, NJ – Stockton University (1-1) opened the 2018 season by splitting a doubleheader with Washington College (1-1), which is picked to win the Centennial Conference. The Ospreys took the opener 3-0 but dropped the nightcap 2-1 in five innings (darkness). Carli Shaw (Bordentown/Bordentown) led Stockton with two hits, two runs and three stolen bases on the day.
 
Pitchers Hannah Bibeault (Hopatcong/Hopatcong) and Samantha Huetter (Roseland/West Essex) combined on a one-hit shutout in the first game. Bibeault allowed just an infield single in five scoreless innings for the win. Huetter, a freshman, made an impressive debut by retiring six of the seven batters that she faced in the final two frames for a save.
 
Stockton manufactured a run in the second inning. Ashley Lobell (Cedar Knolls/Whippany Park) hit a blooper over third base and hustled to second for a leadoff double. After a bunt single by Morgan DiVello (Atco/Hammonton) put runners at the corners, Lobell stole home while DiVello drew a throw on a faked double steal.
 
The Ospreys added two insurance runs in the fifth stanza. Chelsea Thomas (Barrington/Haddon Hts.) and Shaw each tallied a bunt single and a stolen base to put two runners in scoring position. Both Ospreys then scored on a two-RBI single up the middle by Alexandra Cosenzo (East Hanover/Hanover Park) for a 3-0 count. Huetter came on in the top of the sixth and preserved the shutout to seal the victory.
 
Despite outhitting the Shorewomen 5-3 in the second contest, Stockton was edged 2-1 as the Ospreys left eight runners on base in the five innings. Alexa Massa (Moorestown/Moorestown) went 2-3 at the plate while Shaw was 1-2 with two stolen bases and a run.
 
The Ospreys struck early, plating a run in the bottom of the first. Shaw led off with a walk, stole second, moved to third on a single by Massa and later scored on an RBI groundout by Danielle Lugo (Vineland/Vineland). The 1-0 lead lasted until the top of the third when Washington scored its only two runs of the doubleheader.
 
Julia Hallman, who had reached on a fielder's choice, scored the first counter. Hallman got caught in a rundown following a single by Allyson Meil but escaped by beating the throw home for the tying run. Meil moved to third on a wild pitch and then scored the eventual winning run on a dropped fly ball.
 
Stockton loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh on a Massa single, Cosenzo walk and a Washington College error, but the Ospreys could not convert as a groundout ended the threat. The game was then called due to darkness.
 
Freshman pitcher Marissa Semeraro (Ridgefield/Ridgefield) made a solid debut for Stockton despite the outcome. Semeraro allowed just one earned run and three hits while striking out three in five innings of work. Shorewomen hurler Rachel Butler yielded one run on five hits with two whiffs for the win.
 
Stockton's next doubleheader will be at home against Neumann next Thursday, March 8 at 3 pm.