Galloway, N.J. – 16th-ranked Stockton University (30-7) was edged 2-1 by The College of New Jersey (25-13) in the semifinal round of the NJAC Tournament. All of the runs in the game between the top-seeded Ospreys and No. 4 seed TCNJ were scored in the last three innings of the tight contest.
Stockton was limited to four hits, including a pair of extra-base knocks by freshmen.
Camryn Harry (Swedesboro/Paul VI) launched her third home run of the season and
Cassie Stallwood (Flemington/Hunterdon Central) rapped a double.
Freshman
Emily Clauss (Delanco/BCIT) and sophomore
Evangelina Kim (Egg Harbor Twp./Atlantic Christian), each singled for the Ospreys.
The game was scoreless through the first four innings. Stockton generated opportunities but left one runner on base in each of the four frames, two of which were in scoring position. TCNJ got on the board with an unearned run in the top of the fifth.
The Lions added one run in the top of the sixth. Down to its last chance, Stockton had a glimmer of hope after Harry led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo homer to left field. The attempt to rally stalled as the next three Ospreys were retired in order and Stockton was nipped 2-1.
Stockton received strong pitching performances from
Casey Sokol (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) and
Lexi Liquori (Union/Union), but the duo was outdueled by TCNJ's Maya Knasiak. Sokol allowed just one unearned run in 4.1 innings pitched and Liquori yielded a single run in 2.2 innings of work.
Olivia Santos and Emily Evans each went 2-3 for TCNJ. Knasiak fanned nine batters and also went 1-3 with a double at the plate.
Stockton began the day sitting at 14th in the NCAA Power Index (NPI), which is used to determine at-large berths in the NCAA Tournament. Despite the setback to TCNJ, the Ospreys are well-positioned to receive their first NCAA Tournament berth in program history. The NCAA bracket comes out on May 11 and the tourney begins on May 14.
