Galloway, N.J. – 19th-ranked Stockton University (17-1, 4-0 NJAC) continued the best start in program history by sweeping 14th-ranked Rowan University (17-7, 2-2 NJAC) 7-2 and 4-2.
The Ospreys completed a doubleheader sweep of the Profs for the first time since 1984 and upped their winning streak to seven games.
More history was made prior to the game as this week's National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll was released, with Stockton making the top 25 for the first time ever with a #19 ranking.
Caitlin Cetrulo (Caldwell/Caldwell) and
Alexa Panagopoylos (Atco/Hammonton) each collected their 100th career hit during the twinbill.
Casey Sokol (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) notched one win and one save while pitching two innings in each victory.
McKenna George (Centennial, Colo./Eaglecrest) went 3-4 with a run and an RBI in game one. Cetrulo and
Camryn Harry (Swedesboro/Paul VI) contributed two hits and an RBI apiece.
Stockton jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning. Cetrulo reached the 100-hit milestone with an RBI double that scored George. Harry then brought Cetrulo home with an RBI single.
Starting pitcher
Elizabeth Martin (Port Republic/Cedar Creek) held Rowan to just one hit in four scoreless innings before the Profs tied it 2-2 with a pair of runs on three hits in the fifth frame.
The Ospreys exploded for five runs on four hits and three Rowan errors in the bottom of the sixth for a 7-2 lead. Sokol and George stroked RBI singles in the big inning, which included four unearned runs. Sokol entered with the game tied 2-2 and hurled two scoreless innings, allowing three hits with three strikeouts for the win.
George continued to swing a hot bat in game two, going 2-4 with two runs to extend her current streak to 12 straight games with at least one run scored. Harry recorded two of Stockton's four RBI in the game.
Rowan scored in the top of the first before the Ospreys pulled ahead 2-1 with two runs in the third frame. Harry earned an RBI with a groundout and Panagopoylos rapped hit number 100 to score George with the go-ahead run.
The Profs tied it in the top of the fifth, but Stockton again took advantage of Rowan miscues by scoring two unearned runs on two errors. Cetrulo earned an RBI with a sacrifice bunt and Harry collected an RBI on a groundout that scored George for the last run of the 4-2 triumph.
Lexi Liquori (Union/Union) allowed two runs and fanned two batters in five innings pitched for the win. Sokol faced the minimum of six batters in two scoreless innings for a save.
For Rowan, Aly Reim went 2-3 with and RBI in the opener before Ava Fisher and Kate Evick each tallied a hit and an RBI in the nightcap.
Stockton will continue a 10-game homestand by hosting Salisbury in a doubleheader on Friday at 2:30 p.m.
