Galloway, N.J. – Stockton University (6-16, 6-12 NJAC) played its last home doubleheader of the regular season and fell twice to Kean University (19-7, 9-7 NJAC) by scores of 6-1 and 2-1.
Stockton pitchers
Stevie Unger (Tower City, Pa./Williams Valley) and
Marissa Semeraro (Ridgefield/Ridgefield) combined for 11 strikeouts on the day.
Unger established a new career high with seven strikeouts in the opener. The rookie had a solid outing, allowing four earned runs on seven hits to go with the seven whiffs in a complete game, but Kean was opportunistic against the rookie hurler.
The Cougars scored runs on key two-out RBI singles in the first, third, fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Each time, Unger retired the next batter to end the inning.
Stockton went scoreless until the bottom of the sixth when
Lilly James (Roseland/West Essex) launched a solo home run to left field for Stockton's lone run in the 6-1 setback.
The homer was the third of the season for James, tying her for the team lead with
Jenna Patterson (Mullica Hill/Clearview), who singled in the game.
Angie Dunphy (Hainesport/Rancocas Valley) ripped a double and
Vanessa Tancini (Levittown, Pa./Harry S. Truman) added a bunt single to round out Stockton's four hits.
Kean's Taryn DiGiacomo tossed a four-hitter with five strikeouts. Maddie Carlson went 3-4 with three RBI for the Cougars.
In the nightcap, Kean notched two runs in the top of the first but then Semeraro held the Cougars scoreless the rest of the way to give her team a chance. The senior struck out a season-high four batters and finished with a strong stat line of two runs allowed on eight hits with just one walk.
Stockton produced its lone run in the bottom of the third. Tancini led off with a bunt single, her second of the doubleheader, and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Dunphy to make it 2-1.
Megan Dignam (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) led off the bottom of the fourth with a single but the next 12 Ospreys were retired in order and Stockton was edged 2-1.
Kean Heather Clevinger pitched a three-hitter with three strikeouts. Gianna Pickens was 2-3 with a double while Julie Raba added two hits, a run and an RBI for the Cougars.
Stockton will finish the regular season with an NJAC twinbill at New Jersey City on Saturday at 1 p.m.
