Galloway, NJ – Stockton University (15-9) came from behind in each game to sweep a doubleheader from Neumann University (11-6) by scores of 5-4 and 11-3 (five innings; run rule).
Chelsea Thomas (Barrington/Haddon Hts.) reached the 100-hit mark for her career and finished with four hits, three runs and three stolen bases on the day.
Meg Murzello (Maple Shade/Holy Cross) went 3-4 with a double in the first game.
Alexandra Cosenzo (East Hanover/Hanover Park) doubled twice and Thomas contributed two hits. The Ospreys spotted Neumann four runs in the first three innings, with two coming on a home run by Kierstin Fallers.
In the bottom of the third, Thomas singled, stole second and eventually scored on an RBI groundout by
Nicole Petrovich (East Hanover/Hanover Park) to get Stockton on the board at 4-1. The Ospreys later overtook Neumann with four runs on six hits in the bottom of the fifth. After getting one run on a fielder's choice with the bases loaded, Cosenzo ripped an RBI double that scored Murzello to make it 4-3.
Casey Schieda (Monroe Twp./Monroe Twp.) followed with an infield single that pushed in the tying run at 4-4. Pinch hitter
Megan Katzmar (Cinnaminson/Holy Cross) then delivered Cosenzo with the go-ahead run on an RBI single for a 5-4 edge. Stockton held off Neumann in the last two frames for the 5-4 win.
Victoria Torp (West Milford/West Milford) came out of the bullpen with the Ospreys trailing 3-0 and allowed just run on seven hits in the last 4.2 innings to earn the victory on the mound.
Stockton fell behind 3-0 in the nightcap before exploding for 11 runs, ending the game in the bottom of the fifth on the eight-run rule at 11-3.
Alexa Massa (Moorestown/Moorestown) went 3-3 with three RBI and Thomas notched her 100th hit with a bunt single in the third inning.
Thomas led off the third with her milestone hit, then stole second and third and scored on an error. Massa plated Murzello with a squeeze bunt that sliced the gap to 3-2. The one-run deficit remained until the bottom of the fifth when Stockton sent 13 batters to the plate and scored nine runs on 10 hits.
Daniela Marinaro (Cedar Grove/Cedar Grove) led off the monster inning with a double off the wall and later stroked an RBI single as the Ospreys batted around. Massa rapped two RBI singles in the inning while Murzello and Schieda also contributed RBI hits. The onslaught featured six straight hits followed by a bases-loaded walk to Katzmar before the first out was recorded.
Hannah Bibeault (Hopatcong/Hopatcong), who was chosen NJAC Pitcher earlier in the day, improved to 9-1 on the season with the win. Bibeault scattered eight hits and struck out four in five innings of work. All three runs against her were unearned.
Stockton will be right back on its home field tomorrow for an NJAC doubleheader against Rutgers-Camden at 3 pm.
