WEEHAWKEN, N.J. (March 26, 2010) – Senior hurler Amanda Petrocelli threw the program's first-ever no-hitter to lead the Stevens Institute of Technology softball team to an 8-0 shutout win over New Jersey City University in the team's home opener on the Weehawken waterfront, but the Gothic Knights rebounded in the second game of the twinbill, downing the Ducks 14-3 in five-innings. Stevens is now 2-10 on the season, while NJCU improved to 8-4 on the year.
In game one, Petrocelli took the mound with the honor of throwing the first pitch in the first home contest played by Stevens varsity softball. It was dicey early, as an error and a walk with one out put runners on first and second for the Gothic Knights, and a double steal moved both runners in scoring position with two out. But that was as close as NJCU would come to scoring the rest of the contest, as Petrocelli shut the door in the first by inducing a popup to shortstop Naomi Sacks. The Knights would not get a runner past second base for the rest of the game.
NJCU starter Ashley O'Beirne (Wood-Ridge, N.J.) matched Petrocelli pitch-for-pitch in the tense beginning stages of the game, facing the minimum through the first three innings.
In the fourth, with the game still scoreless, Krista Sticco led off the inning with a single through the left side to become the first Stevens baserunner of the day. Lauren Hurley promptly doubled to the centerfield wall, driving home Sticco to give the Ducks the lead. Sacks then stepped up and knocked a two-bagger of her own, trading places with Hurley and making the score 2-0. O'Beirne then got two quick outs, but Brianna Sticco doubled to bring home Sacks and Denise Wagner followed that up with an RBI single to make the Ducks' lead 4-0.
After Petrocelli set down the Gothic Knights in order in the top of the fifth, Stevens got right back to work in their half of the inning. Two outs by Stevens and two walks by NJCU put runners on first and second with two outs for Clair Strom, who singled to left field, allowing Gabrielle Gornelli to score. Sarah Parker followed with an RBI single to the left side of the infield, making the score 6-0. Parker and Strom both advanced a base on a wild pitch to put runners on second and third with two outs. Brianna Sticco then stepped up and came through with a two-out, two-RBI walk-off single as the Ducks forced the eight-run mercy rule and ensured Petrocelli's no-hit attempt would be successful.
Sophomore Brianna Sticco ended up with three runs batted in and scored a run for the Ducks during the first game. Freshman Lauren Hurley went 2-for-2 with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI during game one as well.
In game two, both teams traded scoreless halves in the first, before NJCU exploded for seven runs in the top half of the second inning as the Knights knocked seven hits in the frame.
The Ducks responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning, as Strom tripled down the leftfield line to lead off the frame and Parker followed with a double. Maggie Weigel came through with a two-out RBI hit to trim the NJCU lead to 6-2.
But the Knights would score six more runs in the next frame to put the game out of reach for the Ducks, and chase Stevens starter Molly Herforth from the game. NJCU would score once more in the top of the fourth, with Stevens answering with a run of their own manufactured by a Parker double, a wild pitch and a safety squeeze executed by Wagner. After neither team scored in the fifth, the final score stood at 14-3 in a shortened game.
Taylor Lang (Carteret, N.J.) went 4-for-4 with a run and three RBI in the second game for the Gothic Knights.
Stevens will next host Rutgers-Newark on March 31 at the Weehawken Waterfront. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
