MIDDLESEX COLLEGE EARNS TRIP TO NJCAA D3 NATIONALS WITH 2-0 WIN OVER RCSJ-GLOUCESTER

Kaitlynne McCarthy threw another shutout and hit back-to-back RBI doubles with Julie Davis as Middlesex College topped RCSJ-Gloucester 2-0 in a decisive third game of the North Atlantic District District Championship to earn a trip to next week's NJCAA Division III National Tournament in Syracuse, New York.

McCarthy was named Tournament MVP and Head Coach Jim Muldowney was named Region XIX North District Coach of the Year.

The third-seeded Colts (23-7) dropped the first game of the three-game set on Sunday, but then beat the second-seeded Roadrunners (37-19) in two straight games to advance.

McCarthy was locked in a tremendous pitchers duel with Roadrunners starter Janiece Robles, who had shut the Colts out in Game 1 of the series. 

After five scoreless innings by both pitchers, Middlesex College finally broke through in the sixth. Chloe Oblepias (Sophomore/Carteret, NJ) drew a leadoff walk and after two quick outs, it looked like Robles would escape the inning unharmed. However, McCarthy drove home the first run of the game when she blasted a first-pitch, double the one-hopped the left field fence. Davis also jumped on the first pitch in her at bat, doubling to right-center to give the Colts a late 2-0 lead.

The Roadrunners tried to answer back in the bottom of the frame as they had runners on first and second with one out. A shot into right center by RCSJ-Gloucester's Flynn Blessing looked like it split the gap for a potential game-tying double, but Katelyn Herman (Sophomore/Fords, NJ) made a sensational diving catch, got up and doubled the runner off of second to escape the jam.

McCarthy retired the Roadrunners in order in the seventh to seal the championship for the Colts.

Middlesex is now one of eight teams still alive chasing a National Championship and will be back in action next week in Syracuse, New York. The seeding and scheduling is expected to be announced Sunday night.