Washington, DC – Stockton University (1-0) opened the 2024 season in fine fashion with a solid 7-1 win over Western New England (0-1) in the season opener for both teams. Jordan Nitti (Hamilton/Steinert) and Nick Avagnano (Paramus/Paramus) led the 11-hit attack with three hits each.
 
The Ospreys are playing in the Matt Kurkjian ALS Awareness Invitational hosted by Catholic University for three games over the weekend. The Golden Bears, who play in the Commonwealth Coast Conference, were ranked second in their pre-season poll, coming off a 25-win campaign a year ago.
 
After allowing an unearned run in the second frame, Stockton broke into the scoring column the next inning. Nitti rapped his second hit of the day and advanced to second on a walk to Tucker Elder (Wall/Wall).
 
With two outs, Avagnano singled to score Nitti. On batter later, Cooper Fiore (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove) plated Elder for the 2-1 lead that would be all Stockton would need. It was the 28th straight game Fiore has reached base dating back to last season.
 
The Ospreys added a counter in the fourth when Michael Antonucci (Manasquan/Manasquan) walked and stole second and third. Nitti's infield hit scored Antonucci for a 3-1 margin, before Tony Gatti (Howell/Howell) picked up an RBI sacrifice fly in the sixth to extend the margin to 4-1.
 
In the seventh, the Ospreys added on with a home run from Avagnano, the second of his career to make it 5-1. Stockton closed out the win, scoring single runs in the eighth and ninth frames on an RBI by Gatti and an unearned run in the 7-1 victory.
 
Gatti and Avagnano both had two RBI with Avagnano and Evan Bresnen (Allentown/Steinert), in his Stockton debut, scoring a pair of runs each.
 
Stephen DeMilio (Tuckerton/Pinelands) was solid in his season opener. The sophomore tossed five innings, allowing two hits, one unearned run, walked one and struck out seven Golden Bears hitters.
 
Chris Gonzalez (Hazlet/Raritan), Phil Santa Maria (Absecon/ACIT), and Reece Miller (Toms River/Toms River East) closed out the game with four innings of scoreless relief, allowing three hits and striking out six batters, four by Miller over his two innings of work.
 
Stockton will have a quick turnaround, when the Ospreys will play their second game of the Invitational, against Salve Regina tomorrow at 12pm in Washington, DC.