Galloway, NJ – Stockton University (1-1) opened the 2024 season with a doubleheader split against Muhlenberg College (1-2) on Friday afternoon. The Ospreys took the first game 9-4, before falling 2-1 in the nightcap. Caitlin Cetrulo (Caldwell/James Caldwell) and Emily Spencer (Southampton/Seneca) rapped four hits each on the day to lead the home team.

The first game saw each team plate a run in the first inning, with Cetrulo picking up her first career RBI for a 1-1 tie. Stockton tallied four times in the bottom of the second frame on five hits. Freshman Aubrey Jeffers (Lumberton/Rancocas Valley) started the uprising with her first career hit, followed by a hit from Nerina Tramp (Blackwood/Highland) and an error for one run.

Spencer, in her first game at Stockton, drove in another with her second hit of the game, then Charli Czaczkowski (Jackson/Jackson Memorial) knocked in two with a double for a 5-2 lead after three innings. In the fourth stanza, Stockton erupted for four more markers on RBI by Cetrulo, Megan Sears (Oakland/Indian Hills), Megan Dignam, (Philadelphia, PA/Nazareth Academy) and the first career RBI by Jeffers to forge a 9-2 lead.

The Mules got a pair back in the sixth inning, but Tramp closed out the game in the 9-4 victory. Stockton blasted 15 hits led by Sears and Spencer with three safeties. Czaczkowski, Jeffers and Cetrulo had two each in support of Tramp, who tossed the complete game allowing seven hits and striking out six without giving up a walk in her first win of the year.

The second game turned out to be a tense affair with both squads threatening but not scoring until the fourth inning. After the Mules scored the first run of the contest, the Ospreys answered back with one of their own.

With two out, freshman Alexa Panagopoylos (Atco/Hammonton) singled for her second career hit on the day. Kayla Dollard (Egg Harbor Twp./EHT) pinch ran and scored on a Dignam two-bagger to knot the game at 1-1. Muhlenberg pulled ahead in the sixth 2-1, setting up one last push for the Ospreys in the final frame.

Regan Mendick (Newark, DE/Red Lion Academy) rapped a pinch hit and Spencer reached on an error. But the rally ended with a double play to end the game, giving the visitors the 2-1 win.

Spencer started in the circle and tossed the first four innings surrendering four hits and one run. Transfer Mia Barone (Langhorne, PA/Neshaminy) took the loss finishing the final three innings, giving up just two hits.

Stockton will be back in action on Tuesday when the Ospreys travel to Hoboken to take on Stevens for a doubleheader. The first pitch is set for 3 pm.