Newark, NJ – Stockton University (13-11, 2-4 NJAC) earned a split in an NJAC doubleheader at Rutgers-Newark (10-16, 3-3) by winning the nightcap 14-4 in five innings after dropping the opener 9-8. Freshman Lilly James (Roseland/West Essex) led the Ospreys with four hits, five RBI and three runs on the day.
 
Morgan DiVello (Hammonton/Hammonton) and Casey Schieda (Monroe Twp./Monroe Twp.) each rapped two hits in the first game. Alexandra Cosenzo (East Hanover/Hanover Park) went 1-2 with a double and two RBI while James was 1-4 with an RBI and a run.
 
Cosenzo doubled in Schieda and DiVello in the third inning for a 2-0 lead. James later stroked an RBI single to spark a five-run fifth frame. The big inning also featured a two-run single by pinch hitter Caitlin Hughes (Forked River/Lacey Twp.) that was the first career hit for the freshman. Stockton seemed to be cruising with a 7-0 advantage after five innings.
 
Rutgers-Newark began its comeback with four runs on just two hits plus two walks and a hit batter in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 7-4 game. Stockton extended to 8-4 on an RBI double by Liani Ortiz (Marlton/Cherokee) in the top of the seventh but the Ospreys were unable to close the game out.
 
The Scarlet Raiders staged an improbable rally with five runs on two hits, three walks, an error and a hit batter in the bottom of the seventh. Rutgers-Newark plated the winning run on a walk-off bunt single to edge Stockton 9-8.
 
The Ospreys took out their frustrations with 14 runs on 14 hits in the second game. James went 3-4 with a double, four RBI and two runs while Meg Murzello (Maple Shade/Holy Cross) was 3-4 with two runs and an RBI. Cosenzo and Ortiz also contributed two hits apiece.
 
Stockton started quickly with three runs in the top of the first. Schieda stroked an RBI single, DiVello scored on a wild pitch and Schieda came home on an RBI groundout by James for a 3-0 lead. Rutgers-Newark responded with a pair of tallies in the bottom half to get within 3-2.
 
The Ospreys broke the game open with eight runs in the third stanza. Ortiz started the onslaught with an RBI single that plated Cosenzo. Hughes walked with bases loaded to plate James with the second run. The big inning also included a two-run single by DiVello and was capped by a three-run double off the bat of James that brought in Cosenzo, DiVello and Murzello for a commanding 11-2 lead.
 
Stockton tacked on three more runs in the top of the fifth for a 14-2 advantage. Rutgers-Newark scored twice in the bottom of the fifth and game was called due to the eight-run rule for a 14-4 Stockton victory.
 
Pitcher Marissa Semeraro (Ridgefield/Ridgefield) improved to 5-2 on the season with a complete game. Semeraro allowed four runs, two of which were unearned, on five hits in five innings of work.
 
Stockton will be back in action on Tuesday for an NJAC doubleheader at Rowan University. The first game begins at 3 pm.