HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – The Centenary University softball team closed out its 2021 campaign with a doubleheader sweep of Notre Dame University of Maryland in Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) action on Saturday afternoon at Tannery Field.
Roxana Gonzalez hurled a five-hit shutout in Centenary's 8-0 victory in game one.
Meghan Hughes and
Courtney Deloughery combined for five hits, five RBIs and four runs scored to lead the Cyclones to a 9-3 win in game two.
Prior to the start of game one, the Cyclones recognized their senior class. Centenary took time to acknowledge alums
Justine Stefura and
Juli Wright, who didn't have a senior day last year since the season was cut short due to Covid-19. The team then recognized seniors
Samantha Gabriele,
Tessa Ferentinos,
Jessica Hewitt, Hughes and Deloughery.
Game One Recap (Centenary Won 8-0): The Cyclones wasted little time in getting to work in this one.
Dara Murphy drew a bases loaded walk that allowed Hughes to score. Centenary made it a 2-0 game as Hewitt reached on a fielders choice and Ferentinos scored on the play.
The Cyclones added to their lead in the fourth as Gonzalez led off with a pinch-hit double.
Yvanna Germosen attempted to bunt in her at-bat and an error on the play allowed Gonzalez and Germosen to score. Centenary tacked one more run in the inning on Murphy's RBI groundout and led 5-0.
A single run in the fifth, gave the home team a 6-0 advantage.
The Cyclones put two more runs on the board in the bottom of the sixth to secure the 8-0 victory.
Toni Cacopardo scored on a fielders choice before
Savannah Hettman's RBI single ended the contest.
Gonzalez was strong in the circle to earn her third win of the year. She limited Notre Dame to five hits and allowed just one runner to reach third while striking out five.
Maci Lopez took the loss for Notre Dame as she allowed five runs on four hits in four innings.
Ferentinos had two hits and a run scored for the Cyclones while Hughes scored a pair of runs out of the leadoff spot.
Game Two Recap (Centenary Won 9-3): Once again, the Cyclones went quickly to work and put three runs on the board in the bottom of the first. Deloughery had an RBI single and came around to score on a double steal to highlight the action.
Notre Dame answered back with a run in the top of the second and made it a 3-1 game.
Centenary answered back with a pair of runs in the bottom half of that frame. A pair of Gator errors allowed the Cyclones to make it a 5-1 game.
The Gators scored one in the fifth to make it a 5-2 game.
Centenary scored three runs in its half of the fifth to make it an 8-2 game. Hughes delivered a big two run single before
Sandra Cosenzo crossed the plate on a double steal.
Chloe Wright had an RBI single in sixth which made it a 9-2 game.
Notre Dame tacked on one more run in the top of the seventh, which made the final score 9-3.
Julia Campen earned the win in the circle for the Cyclones as she went four innings and allowed just one unearned run while striking out four. Gabriele picked up the save with three innings of relief work.
Jessie Leatherwood took the loss for Notre Dame after giving up nine runs on 12 hits.
Hughes was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored for the Cyclones while Deloughery added two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Maggie Lenahan added two hits and two runs scored.
The Cyclones finished the year with a 9-9 mark in conference play and tied with St. Elizabeth for the fifth spot in the standings. St. Elizabeth earned the final playoff spot for the conference tournament via the tiebreaker as they won both games against the Cyclones last weekend.
