Jersey City, NJ – Stockton University (19-13, 10-4 NJAC) maintained a share of first place in the NJAC with a doubleheader split with New Jersey City University (12-19, 6-8 NJAC) on Saturday afternoon. The Ospreys took game one 11-1, before falling 6-5 in the nightcap. Jordan Nitti (Hamilton/Steinert) and Robbie Ford (Green Twp./Newton) led the 27-hit attack on the day with five hits each.
 
The first game was all Ospreys, after surrendering a run in the second inning, Stockton scored the next 11 runs of the game in the runaway. Two scores in the fourth, three more in the seventh inning and then a six-run outburst in the eighth inning was more than enough runs for sophomore Stephen DeMilio (Tuckerton/Pinelands Regional).
 
DeMilio tossed his first career complete game, scattering five hits and striking out a career-best nine batters. Nitti and Max Kaplan (Wall/Wall) blasted home runs in the contest. Kaplan's was his fourth of the season, with Nitti blasting his second round-tripper.
 
Game two was a tighter contest with the teams scoring one run each to begin the game. The Gothic Knights took the lead with three markers in the third for a 4-1 lead before Stockton started to chip away. Single runs in the fifth through seventh frames knotted the game at 4-4, but the home team plated two more runs in their half of the eighth inning to make it 6-4.
 
The Ospreys tried to rally in the top of the final inning, when Nitti singled and with two outs, Kaplan walked. Tucker Elder Ewing/Ewing) singled to score Nitti to slice the margin to 6-5. Gavin Malave (Mountainside/Governor Livingston) was hit by a pitch loading the bases, but a ground out ended the rally, handing Stockton the 6-5 defeat.
 
Stockton will play their final non-conference game on Tuesday when the Ospreys will face FDU-Florham at home. Game time is scheduled for 3:30. pm