Montclair, N.J. – Stockton University (19-17, 11-7 NJAC) finished conference play by splitting a doubleheader with Montclair State (20-16, 6-12). The Ospreys, who already were locked into the No 4. seed for the NJAC Tournament, won the first game 4-2 but dropped the second 2-1 in nine innings.
Charli Czaczkowski (Jackson/Jackson Memorial) had two of Stockton's five hits, both doubles, plus two runs and an RBI in the opener.
Jenna Patterson (Mullica Hill/Clearview) went 1-3 with an RBI.
The game was scoreless into the fifth inning when the Ospreys exploded for four runs.
Megan Dignam (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) started the spurt with a pinch-hit RBI double. Czaczkowski doubled in two runs and scored on an RBI single by Patterson to make it 4-0.
Montclair State got on the board in the sixth inning and then loaded the bases with nobody out.
Stevie Unger (Tower City, Pa./Williams Valley) came out of the bullpen and held the Red Hawks to just one more run, which was not charged to her. Unger then pitched a perfect seventh frame to earn a save.
Starter
Nerina Tramp (Blackwood/Highland) recorded her 11th win of the season by pitching four scoreless innings, allowing five hits and one walk. Unger retired six of the seven batters that she faced to seal the 4-2 victory.
Stockton again finished with five hits in the nightcap, with a double by Patterson the only extra-base knock. The Ospreys trailed 1-0 heading into their last chance in the top of the seventh.
Patterson led off with a double and pinch runner
Gabrielle Barranger (Sicklerville/Haddonfield) was sacrificed to third by
Michaela Luyber (Bordentown/Bordentown). For the second game in a row, Dignam came to the plate as a pinch hitter and delivered. Her bunt single scored Barranger with the tying run.
The game went to two extra innings before Stockton was edged 2-1 on a walkoff sacrifice fly by Montclair State's Liz Mullen in the bottom of the ninth.
Jenna Crampton (High Bridge/Voorhees) pitched well despite the outcome. Crampton allowed just one earned run on five hits with four strikeouts in 8.2 innings pitched.
Stockton will be the No. 4 seed for the double-elimination NJAC Tournament and face the No. 3 seed, likely either The College of New Jersey or Ramapo, in the first round on May 6. With a lengthy layoff, the Ospreys are exploring the possibility of adding a non-conference twinbill next week.
