STOCKTON SPLITS WITH #9 ROWAN

Joey Afflitto

Game 1 / Game 2

Richard Stockton (14-4, 1-3 NJAC) and ninth-ranked Rowan (20-3, 2-2) split an NJAC doubleheader.

Stockton scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to win the opener 4-3 and Rowan bounced back to defeat the Ospreys 10-3 in the nightcap.

In game one, Stockton erased a 3-0 deficit with four runs in its last chance for a dramatic 4-3 victory. Joey Afflitto (Brick/ Brick) drew a bases-loaded walk and Danielle Kohen (Clark/A. L. Johnson) added a sacrifice fly to make it 3-2.

After an intentional walk, Heather Corica (Iselin/JFK) dribbled a grounder to third. The throw home got away from the catcher, allowing the tying and winning runs to score, with Afflitto coming home from second for the game-winner.

Jessica Goncalves (Union/Union) went 2-3 with a run scored while Afflitto was 1-3 with a double, run and an RBI. Jennifer Arcella went 2-4 with two doubles, a run and an RBI for Rowan, which had built its 3-0 lead on single runs in the first, third and sixth innings.

Stockton pitcher Brittany Ksiezopolski (Hillsborough/Hillsborough) collected the win after she entered in the top of the seventh with runners at second and third and retired three consecutive batters.

Rowan took control of the second game with six runs on just two hits in the third inning for a 6-0 lead. Nicole Escudero led off with a double and Lauren Davis followed with an RBI single. The Profs then capitalized on four walks, two passed balls, an error and a hit-by-pitch to score four more times.

The Profs scored four more runs in the sixth frame to increase the lead to 10-0. Stockton plated three unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth to set the 10-3 final score, with one coming on an RBI single by Grace Long (Egg Harbor Twp./EHT).

Long knocked two of Stockton’s three hits, including a triple. Arcella went 2-3 with two RBI while Davis and Stephanie Labas each were 2-4 with a run scored for the Profs. Winning pitcher LeAnne Miller tossed a three-hitter with five strikeouts and did not allow an earned run (three unearned).