Ewing, NJ – Stockton University (22-19) stayed right with #15 The College of New Jersey (31-6), the No. 1 seed for the NJAC Tournament, but fell just short 3-2 in the first round of the conference tourney. The sixth-seeded Ospreys equaled the Lions with seven hits but left 10 runners on base.
 
Casey Schieda (Monroe Twp./Monroe Twp.) went 3-4 with a solo home run. Angie Dunphy (Hainesport/Rancocas Valley) contributed two hits and an RBI while Liani Ortiz (Marlton/Cherokee) walked twice and scored a run.
 
Schieda slugged her third homer of the season, a solo blast to left center in the top of the first that staked Stockton to an early 1-0 lead. TCNJ answered with a run in the bottom half on a walk, single, sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly to tie the game 1-1.
 
Stockton took the lead again with a run in the top of the second. Ortiz and Ashley Lobell (Cedar Knolls/Whippany Park) each walked. After a sacrifice, Dunphy laid down a bunt single that went for a hit and plated Ortiz to make it 2-1. The Ospreys had runners at first and third with one out but couldn't add to the lead, stranding two runners for the first of four times in seven innings.
 
The Lions tied the game again in the bottom of the second with an unearned run on one hit and an error for a 2-2 deadlock. The contest then remained scoreless for the next two-and-a-half innings. Stockton got two runners aboard with two-out walks in the third before a strikeout ended the inning.
 
The Ospreys threatened again in the fourth frame as a leadoff walk to Lilly James (Roseland/West Essex) followed by a Dunphy single put runners at first and second with none out. The opportunity fizzled as the next three batters were retired on a foul out and two strikeouts.
 
After Schieda led off the fifth inning with a single and advanced to second on a single by Alexandra Cosenzo (East Hanover/Hanover Park), Stockton had another quality chance to take the lead. This time, a popout and double play snuffed the opening. TCNJ's Lauren Conroy then hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth that eventually proved to be the difference.
 
After a scoreless sixth inning, the Ospreys had one last chance in the top of the seventh. Morgan DiVello (Hammonton/Hammonton) led off with a single and Schieda followed with her third hit of the day. Once again, Stockton had two runners on base with nobody out, however the frustration continued as a fielder's choice and two lineouts sealed the 3-2 setback.
 
Victoria Torp (West Milford/West Milford) pitched a complete game and limited a TCNJ offense that was averaging 6.7 runs and 9.1 hits per game to three runs, one of which was unearned, on seven hits. Despite the solid outing, Torp suffered the loss on the mound.
 
No. 6 seed Stockton next will play No. 5 seed Montclair State in a losers' bracket game of the double-elimination NJAC Tournament. The contest will take place at 11 am on Friday at TCNJ, which will host the remainder of the tournament.