SPORTS

GMC softball roundup for Saturday, May 2

Mike Becker
@realmikebecker

Rebecca DiSerio and Julie Siecinski both hit RBI singles up the middle with one out in the top of the seventh inning to break a tied game and lift the J.P. Stevens High School softball team to a 5-3 win over host East Brunswick on Saturday.

The win vaults J.P. Stevens (11-3) into sole possession of first place in the GMC Red Division after the teams entered the game tied for the division lead.

Ashli Venokur gave East Brunswick (9-8) a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a solo home run before the Hawks tied it up in the top of the fourth on Brianna Zederbaum's RBI double down the left field line.

The Hawks then went ahead in the top of the fifth on a two-run home run from DiSerio down the left field line, but the Bears came right back in the bottom of the fifth to tie things, 3-3, on a two-run homer to center off the bat of Samantha Smalley.

Amanda Leary started the J.P. Stevens seventh with a leadoff single and two batters later Gabby Young singled, as both came around to score on the go-ahead RBI hits.

J.P. Stevens had a 1-2-3 seventh inning on defense to seal the win.

Winning pitcher Ashley Lombardi gave up three earned runs on three hits for the win, striking out five and walking three, as she retired the final eight batters she faced after serving up Smalley's game-tying homer in the bottom of the fifth.

Kaleigh Dwyer took the loss, as she gave up five earned runs on 11 hits.

East Brunswick has lost seven straight games since starting the season 9-1.

Bishop Ahr 3, Colonia 2: Amanda Julve hit a go-ahead RBI single in the top of the eighth inning to score Ragen Reddick as Bishop Ahr (12-4) prevailed. Reddick went 2-for-4 with a double while winning pitcher Christine LaRochelle allowed one earned run on four hits, striking out eight and walking three, while at the plate she drove in and scored a run. Cat Mantagas went 2-for-3 with an RBI for Colonia (8-11) while Trish Daneke gave up two earned runs on six hits, taking the loss.

J.F. Kennedy 6, Carteret 2: Ashley Conroy and Julia Sinatra each recorded two hits for J.F. Kennedy (7-8). The Mustangs took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Carteret answered with two runs in the top of the third before Kennedy responded with another three-run inning. Adrianna Arroyo and Clare Lewis each had two RBI and Kayla Coleman allowed two unearned runs on nine hits for Kennedy. Nicole Casale went 3-for-3 with a run for Carteret (5-10).

Woodbridge 12, North Brunswick 4: Carly Kjersgaard went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI and Mackenzie Thomas was 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI as Woodbridge (6-10) scored six runs in the top of the seventh to pull away. Jordan Cinelli allowed four runs, all unearned, on seven hits for the win. Katrina Lauri went 2-for-4 for North Brunswick (2-15).

South Brunswick 12, Mount St. Mary 1 (5 inn.): Carly Rybinski went 4-for-5 with four RBI and Jaime Klemas also was 4-for-5 to lead South Brunswick (9-5). Leann Panconi collected three hits for the Vikings and Nicole Majewski allowed an earned run on five hits for the win.

Metuchen 12, Keyport 0 (5 inn.): Samantha Hoffman picked up three RBI, going 2-for-2 with a homerun to lead Metuchen (8-7). Julie Pirro had two RBI and Molly O'Connor went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI for the Bulldogs. Samantha Hong, O'Connor, and Cristina Czochanski combined on a one-hitter.

New Brunswick 16, Orange 7: Sha'Nya Lange and Cynthia Santaigo each collected three hits and Evanna Martinez homered and drove in four runs to lead New Brunswick (6-9).