Galloway, NJ – Stockton University (3-3, 1-1 NJAC) opened their 2021 conference play with a doubleheader split with New Jersey City (3-10, 1-1 NJAC) on Saturday afternoon. The Ospreys captured the first game in a thriller 6-5, before falling in the night cap 8-3. Michael Wynne (Howell/Howell) earned his first career win in game one.

The Ospreys fell behind in the opener 2-0 before responding with a pair of their own to knot the game after two innings. RBI by Garrett DeMarrais (Oradell/River Dell) and Dominic Meleo (Freehold/St. Peter's Prep) forged the tie.

Three more runs by the Gothic Knights, sandwiched around a Marco Meleo (Freehold/Freehold Boro) RBI made 5-3 in favor of the visitors going into the bottom of the seventh frame.

Evan Geisler (Lodi/Lodi) scored John Perrino (Wall/Wall) to slice the margin to 5-4 after seven innings. In the eighth, Stockton loaded the bases, when Nick Trifiletti (Linwood/Mainland) plated the tying score with a walk. A wild pitch then gave the Ospreys a 6-5 lead heading to the last frame.

NJCU put runners at the corners with one out, but Meleo took a fly in center and tossed out the attempted tying run at the plate to preserve the 6-5 win. Wynne tossed 1.2 innings of scoreless relief in earning his first career win at Stockton.

Game two was all Gothic Knights as they got to the Osprey pitchers, scoring in five different innings and totaling nine hits. The Ospreys would stage a brief rally in the ninth, scoring twice.

Included in the rally was the first career RBI by freshman Sam Nieves (South Plainfield/South Plainfield), who earlier rapped his first career hit, and the first hit at Stockton by transfer Jahi Williams (Jersey City/Ferris).

Ryan Swift (Sewell/Washington twp.) and Geisler totaled three hits each in the doubleheader to lead Stockton. Brandon Rivera topped NJCU with five hits and three RBI on the day.

Stockton's next game will be Thursday when the Ospreys travel to Union, NJ to face Kean University. Game time is 3:30 pm.