Galloway, N.J. – Stockton University (9-7, 2-0 NJAC) began conference play for the 2024 season with a sweep of Montclair State (10-0, 0-2 NJAC) by scores of 5-3 and 10-4. Osprey pitchers threw 23 strikeouts and held the Red Hawks to eight hits on the day.
 
In the opener, Nerina Tramp (Blackwood/Highland) recorded a career-high 15 strikeouts and did not allow a hit until the fifth inning before finishing with a three-hitter in her sixth win of the year. Caitlin Cetrulo (Caldwell/James Caldwell) went 2-3 with a run and an RBI.
 
Stockton took the early lead with two unearned runs in the first inning, one of which came on an RBI single by Megan Dignam (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy). The Ospreys made it 5-0 with three runs in the third frame.
 
Megan Sears (Oakland/Indian Hills) blasted a long solo home run to centerfield before Cetrulo and Charli Czaczkowski (Jackson/Jackson Memorial) added RBI singles. Montclair scored once in the fifth inning and twice in the sixth to get within 5-3, but Tramp pitched a perfect seventh inning to seal the 5-3 triumph.
 
Four Ospreys rapped two hits apiece in the nightcap, with Czaczkowski going 2-3 with a double, two runs and two RBI. Madison Manera (Clayton/Clayton) went 2-3 with two RBI while Emily Spencer (Southampton/Seneca) and Alexa Panagopoylos (Atco/Hammonton) knocked two hits apiece.
 
Stockton took control early with six unearned runs in the first inning for a 6-0 advantage. Panagopoylos, Czaczkowski and Manera stroked RBI singles and Cetrulo lofted a sacrifice fly. Montclair halved the margin to 6-3 in the second inning before Mia Barone (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) came out of the bullpen to shut down the Red Hawks.
 
The Ospreys pulled away in the third frame on an RBI double by Czaczkowski and RBI singles by Manera and Spencer for a 9-3 advantage. Aubrey Jeffers (Lumberton/Rancocas Valley) produced Stockton's last run with a bunt single for an RBI to cap the 10-4 victory.
 
Barone allowed just one unearned run on three hits with a career-high five strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched to even her record at 3-3 on the season with the win.
 
For Montclair, Kayla Cosentino went 1-2 with a double, run, RBI, walk and stolen base in the first game then 1-3 with a walk in the second game. Daniela Plaganis was 2-3 with a triple, three RBI and a run in the second game.
 
Stockton will be home again on Tuesday for an NJAC doubleheader at 2:30 p.m. versus The College of New Jersey, which sits atop the Others Receiving Votes list of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll, just outside the top 25.