Kissimmee, Fl – Stockton University (1-1) opened the 2019 season with a split of two games on their annual Florida trip. The Ospreys were downed by Mt. Union (2-0) by a 7-4 score, and then outslugged Utica (1-1) by a 14-10 final in the night cap.
Meg Murzello (Maple Shade/Holy Cross) led the way with five hits in the pair of contests.
The opening game saw Stockton fall behind 7-0 after five innings to the Purple Raiders before getting the offense going. The Ospreys tallied an unearned run in their half of the sixth inning to cut the lead to 7-1, and then put up three more markers in the final frame.
Madison Kelly (Franklinville/Delsea) and
Casey Schieda (Monroe Twp. /Monroe Twp.) walked surrounding a hit by Murzello, loading the bases.
Megan Leitner (Lake Hiawatha/Parsippany) then delivered Kelly with a sacrifice fly for her first RBI as an Osprey. A passed ball and an error scored Murzello and Schieda before the rally ended at 7-4.
Victoria Torp (West Milford/West Milford) tossed the first 3.1 innings in the loss.
The nightcap saw the teams combine for 24 runs and 27 hits in the two hour and 40 minute marathon. Utica opened up by scoring the first three runs before Stockton exploded for nine runs over the next two innings for a 9-3 lead after three innings. The big hits came from
Ashley Lobell (Cedar Knolls/Whippany Park) with a two RBI single, and Schieda who cleared the bases with a three-run double.
The Pioneers were not to be deterred as they plated three runs in the fourth and fifth innings to knot the game at 9-9. Stockton then salted the game away with a five spot in their half of the fifth inning. Freshman
Leah McCray (Philadelphia, PA)/Merion Mercy Academy) drove in two runs with her second hit of the game, Lobell, freshman
Lilly James (Roseland/West Essex) and
Alexandra Cosenzo (East Hanover/Hanover Park) plated the other markers.
For McCray and James it was their first career RBI and hits for Stockton. Utica tacked on a final run in the last frame to set the score at 14-10 in favor of Stockton.
Angie Dunphy (Hainesport/Rancocas Valley) came on in relief to earn her first career win, with 2.2 innings of one hit pitching. Lobell, Schieda and McCray led the Ospreys with three RBI each on the day, with Lobell adding three hits.
Stockton will play again tomorrow in Clermont, Florida, as they will face Simpson College (IA) at 3:45pm, then will face off against Lake Forest (IL) at 6pm.
