Wayne, NJ – Stockton University (11-7, 1-1 NJAC) opened NJAC play with a doubleheader at William Paterson (14-6, 1-1 NJAC). The Ospreys rallied late to tie but were edged 4-3 in eight innings in the first game. They salvaged a split with a 6-2 win in the nightcap.
Stockton was held to just two hits in the opener but managed to force extra innings before they were edged by one run. A one-out single by
Alexa Massa (Moorestown/Moorestown) in the fourth frame was the lone safety for the Ospreys in the first six innings as they fell behind 3-0.
In the seventh,
Daniela Marinaro (Cedar Grove/Cedar Grove) reached on an error and
Liani Ortiz (Marlton/Cherokee) and
Megan Katzmar (Cinnaminson/Holy Cross) each were hit by pitches to load the bases. Pinch-hitter
Nicole Petrovich (East Hanover/Hanover Park) then ripped a clutch double with two outs that scored all three runners and pulled Stockton into a 3-3 tie.
With the international tiebreaker in effect (runner placed on second), the Ospreys failed to score in the top of the eighth and William Paterson plated the deciding run in the bottom half for the 4-3 final.
Meg Murzello (Maple Shade/Holy Cross) went 2-3 with two runs and a stolen base while seven of her teammates rapped one hit apiece in the nightcap.
Alexandra Cosenzo (East Hanover/Hanover Park) blasted a home run for Stockton's lone extra-base hit in the contest.
Stockton took a big lead with four runs in the third inning. Marinaro led off with a single, stole second and later scored the first run on an infield hit by
Carli Shaw (Bordentown/Bordentown).
Chelsea Thomas (Barrington/Haddon Heights) came home with the second run on an error by the Pioneers and Massa delivered a two-run single that plated Shaw and Murzello to make it 4-0.
William Paterson got on the board with a single run in the bottom of the fourth but the Ospreys responded quickly in the fifth inning. Murzello led off with a hit and Cosenzo followed with her fourth homer of the year to increase the lead to 6-1. The Pioneers scored once in the seventh stanza before Stockton closed out the 6-2 triumph.
Hannah Bibeault (Hopatcong/Hopatcong) allowed only one run and three hits in four innings pitched to improve to 6-1 on the season.
Victoria Torp (West Milford/West Milford) tossed the final three frames to earn her third save of the season and set a new school record with five career saves.
Stockton will host 16th-ranked Rowan University in an NJAC doubleheader on Tuesday at 3 pm.
