Jersey City, NJ – Stockton University (19-9, 6-2 NJAC) swept a doubleheader for the third day in a row, downing New Jersey (4-18, 0-8) by scores of 18-6 in five innings and 8-4. The Ospreys totaled 26 runs on 24 hits in the NJAC twinbill, led by
Alexa Massa (Moorestown/Moorestown) with five hits and six RBI.
Massa went 4-5 with five RBI and three runs in the first game.
Madison Kelly (Franklinville/Delsea) was 3-4 with a run and an RBI while
Meg Murzello (Maple Shade/Holy Cross) and
Casey Schieda (Monroe Twp./Monroe Twp.) each contributed two hits and three runs.
Stockton took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first, with three runs coming on a bases-clearing double by pinch-hitter
Megan Katzmar (Cinnaminson/Holy Cross). The Ospreys then surrendered four unearned runs in the bottom half for a 4-4 tie before taking control of the game.
An RBI single by Schieda in the second inning gave Stockton the lead for good at 5-4. The Ospreys pulled away with eight runs in the fourth frame, with four coming on a two-run double by
Ashley Lobell (Cedar Knolls/Whippany Park) and two-run single by Massa. Kelly also stroked an RBI single.
Massa delivered another two-run single during a five-run fifth inning that capped the 18-6 victory. Winning pitcher
Marissa Semeraro (Ridgefield/Ridgefield) tossed a five-hitter with four strikeouts and all six runs against her were unearned as Stockton committed four errors in the game.
Alexandra Cosenzo (East Hanover/Hanover Park) went 3-4 with a double, her fifth home run of the season and four RBI in the nightcap. Murzello was 2-4 with a walk and a run scored while Massa tallied two runs, one hit and one RBI.
The game was scoreless until Cosenzo led off the fourth inning with a solo homer. In the fifth stanza, Cosenzo stroked an RBI single and Lobell plated Massa with a sacrifice fly to boost the lead to 3-0. NJCU briefly pulled ahead 4-3 with four runs in the bottom of the fifth before Stockton went back on top in the sixth inning. Massa rapped an RBI single and Cosenzo ripped a two-run double for a 6-4 advantage.
The Ospreys tacked on two unearned runs in the seventh to seal the 8-4 triumph.
Samantha Huetter (Roseland/West Essex) earned the pitching victory, allowing four runs on seven hits with three strikeouts in five innings of work.
Victoria Torp (West Milford/West Milford) tied the school record with her fourth save of the year. Torp tossed two scoreless frames and yielded just one hit while fanning two.
Stockton will try to add to its six-game winning streak when the Ospreys play an NJAC doubleheader at Montclair State on Saturday at 1 pm.
