Salisbury, Md. – Stockton University (1-1) opened the 2023 by splitting a neutral-site doubleheader with 21st-ranked University of Rochester (1-3). The Ospreys were edged 5-4 in nine innings and erased a four-run deficit to win the nightcap 5-4. The games were played at Salisbury University.
 
Michaela Luyber (Bordentown/Bordentown) went 2-4 and scored twice while Megan Sears (Oakland/Indian Hills) rapped two hits in the opener. Charli Czaczkowski (Jackson/Jackson Memorial) smacked an RBI double in the second inning to score Luyber with the tying run at 1-1.
 
Rochester went ahead 2-1 in the fourth frame but Stockton answered with three unearned runs in the fifth inning. Luyber scored first and then Lilly James (Roseland/West Essex) doubled home two runs to make it 4-2.
 
The Ospreys were three outs away from victory until the Yellow Jackets tied the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh. Although the winning run was on third base, Stockton was able to get out of the inning as James fielded a grounder, stepped on second base and fired to first for a double play.
 
Stockton left one runner on base apiece in the eighth and ninth innings. Rochester plated an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth to edge the Ospreys 5-4. Starting pitcher Stevie Unger (Tower City, Pa./Williams Valley) allowed two runs on three hits in four innings but was not involved in the decision.
 
James went 2-4 with a home run and three RBI while Sears rapped two more hits, including a double, in the nightcap. Stockton fell behind 4-0 in the first four innings before rallying to win.
 
Kayla Posten (Cherry Hill/CH West) slugged a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth to cut the margin in half at 4-2. Later in the inning, a bunt single by James scored Vanessa Tancini (Levittown, Pa./Harry S. Truman) from third and freshman Madison Manera (Clayton/Clayton) all the way from second with the tying run.
 
James gave Stockton its first lead of the day at 5-4 with a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth that proved to be the difference. Nerina Tramp (Blackwood/Highland) retired the Yellow Jackets in order to close the 5-4 triumph.
 
Tramp pitched 3.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen and did not allow a hit while striking out three batters to earn the win in relief. Tramp retired 10 of the 11 batters that she faced.
 
After a day off tomorrow, Stockton will play a doubleheader against third-ranked Salisbury University on Sunday at noon.