STOCKTON SWEEPS BARUCH 3-2 AND 9-0

Michelle Pietrocola

Game 1 / Game 2

Richard Stockton (19-7) ran its record in non-conference games to a near-perfect 17-1 with a pair of victories over Baruch (10-16).

The Ospreys took the first contest 3-2 on a walk-off double by Katelyn Derewecki (Hillsborough/Hillsborough).

Sophomore Michelle Pietrocola (North Brunswick/North Brunswick) pitched her first career no-hitter as Stockton completed the sweep 9-0 in five innings.

In the opener, Stockton grabbed the lead with a run in the bottom of the first as Joey Afflitto (Brick/Brick) led off with a triple and scored on a Baruch error in the infield.

The Bearcats pulled ahead 2-1 with a pair of unearned runs in the fourth inning. Regina Cardinale and Megan Ruiz recorded RBI on a bases-loaded walk and a fielder’s choice respectively. Stockton tied the game 2-2 as pinch-runner Marisa Ortiz (Manchester/ Manchester Twp.) scored on the back end of a double steal in the fifth inning.

The Ospreys plated the winning run in the bottom of the seventh. Nicole Chabak (Marlton/Cherokee) ripped a pinch-hit double. Three batters later, pinch-runner Rachel Forte (Vineland/Vineland) scored on a walk-off double by Derewecki for the 3-2 win.

Grace Long (Egg Harbor Twp./EHT) went 2-3 with a double and Afflitto was 1-2 with a triple, run scored and two walks for Stockton. Toniann Donde was 2-4 with a double for Baruch. Pietrocola came on in relief to record the final out in the top of the seventh and collect the pitching victory.

Pietrocola struck out 10 batters while tossing a five-inning no-hitter in the nightcap for her second victory of the day and eighth of the season. Afflitto led the offense, going 3-3 with a triple, three runs and an RBI to extend her hitting streak to eight games.

Stockton started quickly with two runs in the first inning. Afflitto again led off with a triple and scored on an RBI single by Stephanie Darrow (Marlton/Cherokee), who later scored on an RBI hit by Nicole Scanlon (Colonia/Colonia).

In the second frame, Afflitto stroked an RBI single, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Derewecki for a 4-0 lead. The Ospreys brought the run rule into effect with five tallies in the fourth inning.

Ortiz and Monica Barysh (Manalapan/Manalapan) provided the highlights of the outburst with an RBI single apiece. Pietrocola closed out the 9-0 shutout by fanning the last two batters in the fifth inning.