Freshman right-hander Andrea Delucrezia (Belleville, N.J./St. Mary’s-Rutherford) tossed a five-hit shutout,and aided her own caused with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate, as New Jersey City University handed Baruch its first loss of the season, 7-0, in a non-conference softball game at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex in Jersey City, New Jersey.

It was the first-ever meeting between the schools in softball.

The two teams were scheduled to play a doubleheader, and Baruch was leading 1-0 in the top of the second inning of game two, when the home plate umpire became ill, forcing the contest to be cancelled. The two schools will attempt to make up the game later this season.

For Baruch, the lone offensive standout was junior pitcher Kathy Maher (Brooklyn, N.Y./James Madison), who was 2-for-3 with a triple. On the mound, the right-hander suffered her first loss of the season, falling to 3-1. In 6.0 innings, she allowed four unearned runs (seven total) and 11 hits, fanning three and walking one, over 88 pitches.

All of the offense for N.J.C.U. came in the middle innings, as the Knights scored three unearned runs in the third, and twice crossed the plate in both the fourth and fifth innings.

The Bearcats fall to 5-1 on the season. The Bearcats had allowed only eight runs in their first five games, prior to the loss to N.J.C.U.

The Bearcats will return to action tomorrow with another non-conference doubleheader across the river against Rutgers-Newark. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

Photo: Twig