Softball (3/12/12)
 

STOCKTON BEGINS 2012 SEASON WITH TWO VICTORIES

Jessica Goncalves

Mitchell boxscore / Wooster boxscore

Richard Stockton (2-0) began the 2012 season with a pair of victories in Florida, defeating Mitchell College (MA) 6-1 and then shutting out Wooster (OH) 2-0.

Centerfielder Jessica Goncalves (Union/Union) got her junior year off to a great start by going 5-6 with two runs and two stolen bases on opening day.

Goncalves went 3-3 against Mitchell while Joey Afflitto (Brick/Brick) and Katelyn Derewecki (Hillsborough/ Hillsborough) contributed two hits apiece. Jamie Gasko (Cinnaminson/Cinnaminson) pitched a three-hitter with 11 strikeouts for the win.

Stockton broke open a 1-1 game with three runs in the fifth inning. Afflitto ripped an RBI triple, pinch hitter Jenna Kinter (Hamilton/Nottingham) contributed an RBI double and Derewecki capped the big inning with an RBI double for a 4-1 lead.

Sophomore Grace Long (Egg Harbor Twp./EHT) blasted her first career home run in the sixth frame to score the final two runs in the 6-1 Stockton triumph.

Michelle Pietrocola (North Brunswick/North Brunswick) pitched the Ospreys to victory over Wooster, tossing a two-hit shutout with seven strikeouts. Pietrocola allowed just one runner to advance as far as second base. Goncalves led the offense with two more hits and two stolen bases.

Goncalves manufactured a run in the third inning as she reached on bunt single then stole second and third before scoring on an RBI double by Afflitto for a 1-0 lead. Nichole Terreri (Deptford/Deptford) delivered a pinch-hit RBI double in the fifth frame to give Stockton an insurance run on the way to the 2-0 victory that was Pietrocola’s second career shutout.