Clermont, FL – Stockton University (4-2) split its two games in Florida. The Ospreys extended their winning streak to four with an 8-0 victory over Worcester State (0-5) in five innings.
Alexandra Cosenzo (East Hanover/Hanover Park) hit her school-record 17th career home run in the game.
Stockton then went extra innings with Illinois Wesleyan (1-1) which is ranked #2 in the NFCA national poll and was the 2018 NCAA Championship runner-up, before falling 3-2 in nine frames.
Against Worcester State, Cosenzo went 2-3 with four RBI and became Stockton's all-time leader in home runs with her 17th career homer one day after she tied the school record with a blast yesterday.
Leah McCray (Philadelphia, PA/Merion Mercy Academy) was 2-3 with a double, two runs and an RBI.
The Ospreys jumped out quickly with six runs in the bottom of the first. Cosenzo wasted little time putting her name in the record book as she followed an RBI single by McCray with a three-run homer. Stockton later added two unearned runs for a 6-0 lead.
McCray led off the bottom of the second with a double and Cosenzo followed with an RBI single.
Angie Dunphy (Hainesport/Rancocas Valley) later scored with two outs for an 8-0 advantage. Stockton emptied the bench over the next three innings before the game was stopped due to eight-run rule.
Overall, 18 Ospreys saw action in the rout. Pitcher
Samantha Huetter (Roseland/West Essex) tossed a two-hit shutout with three strikeouts to earn the victory.
Stockton played #2 Illinois Wesleyan even throughout regulation and into extra innings before being edged 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth.
Illinois Wesleyan scored on a double steal in the bottom of the first for a 1-0 edge but Stockton responded quickly, tying the game in the top of the second. Cosenzo reached on an error and later scored during a fielder's choice on a bunt by
Lilly James (Roseland/West Essex).
The game remained a pitcher's duel between Stockton starter
Marissa Semeraro (Ridgefield/Ridgefield) and her counterpart Brea Walker, who was chosen to the All-Tournament Team at the NCAA Division III championship series last year. Each hurler allowed just four hits in regulation, and the game went to extra innings, where Illinois Wesleyan prevailed 3-2.
Stockton will have a day off tomorrow before returning to the diamond on Thursday for games against Bowdoin College at 9:15 am and the University of Scranton at 1:30 pm.
