Gabay Leads Rams to Sweep of Gothic Knights

Game 1: Farmingdale State - 5, New Jersey City - 2

Game 2: Farmingdale State - 8, New Jersey City - 3

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Recap, photo courtesy of Farrmingdale State

Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State softball team hosted New Jersey City University for a non-conference doubleheader this afternoon in their home opener and won the first game, 5-2, before taking the second by a score of 8-3. Rams freshman Nicole Gabay (Medford, N.Y.) pinch-hit and drove in the game-winning run in the first game and pitched three scoreless innings of relief in the second to lead FSC to the sweep of the Gothic Knights.

NJCU (4-12) took an early 2-0 advantage in the first inning of game one on a two-run double to left by senior center fielder Julie Squeo (Carlstadt, N.J.).

Farmingdale State (4-10) tied the game in the fifth inning on a Lexie Collard (Deer Park, N.Y.) double to score sophomore center fielder Ginger Sherry (Islip, N.Y.) and a sacrifice fly by junior first baseman Sierra Cardenales (Patchogue, N.Y.), which scored L. Collard.

With runners on first and second and one out in the bottom of the sixth, Gabay came off the bench and hit a pinch-hit single up the middle to score sophomore right fielder Sabrina Bencivenga (Sayville, N.Y.) and put the Rams ahead, 3-2. In their next at-bat, L. Collard hit a two-run triple to center to extend the FSC advantage to 5-2.

After New Jersey City hit a leadoff single in the top of the seventh, junior pitcher Jaxie Collard (Deer Park, N.Y.) forced a foul out to first and a 5-4-3 double play to secure the 5-2 victory.

L. Collard finished 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBI's and a run scored, while sophomore second baseman Jessica Lombardo(Levittown, N.Y.) tallied two hits.

J. Collard pitched a complete game to earn the win and improve her overall record to 3-4 on the season.

The Gothic Knights scored a pair of unearned runs in the top of the first inning of game two to take a 2-0 lead. The Rams would answer in the bottom half as Lombardo hit an RBI single to score junior shortstop Christina Rayfield (Commack, N.Y.) and Cardenales followed with an RBI triple to tie the game. Cardenales later scored on a wild pitch to put the Rams ahead by one, 3-2.

After scoring an unearned run in the second inning, FSC increased their lead to 6-2 in the third on an RBI groundout by junior center fielder Aleysha Midgett (Huntington, N.Y.) and an RBI single up the middle from freshman catcher Haley Schmeiser (Northport, N.Y.).

With Farmingdale State leading 7-3 in the top of the fifth inning, New Jersey City hit three straight singles to load the bases with none out. Gabay entered the game to pitch and forced a line out and foul out to third before striking out the next batter to escape the jam.

Gabay only allowed two NJCU baserunners the rest of the way as the Rams earned the game two win, 8-3.

Cardenales was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate in the second game with an RBI and two runs scored, while Lombardo, Midgett and Schmeiser each tallied a hit, one run scored and an RBI.

Sophomore Julia Walpole (Mahopac, N.Y.) (1-2) earned her first win of the season after striking out five over four innings of work. Gabay recorded the save pitching three scoreless innings in relief.