Stockton University Athletics

Ospreys Have High Hopes for Experienced Team

Softball | 3/5/2020 11:45:00 AM

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Galloway, NJ – The Stockton University softball team will be a veteran squad this year with six seniors, five juniors plus a couple of sophomores who saw considerable playing time last year. The Ospreys will be seeking a fifth consecutive winning season and fifth straight NJAC Tournament berth under head coach Mavreen Hering.
 
Leading the way will be senior first baseman Alexandra Cosenzo, a four-year starter who was an NJAC First Team selection a year ago. Cosenzo batted .310 with 39 hits, seven doubles, three homers and 28 RBI in 2019. During the year, she became Stockton's all-time leader in home runs (18) and RBI (111) and moved into sixth in school history in hits (139).
 
Cosenzo is joined in the infield by two more NJAC all-conference selections in sophomore shortstop Lilly James and senior second baseman Liani Ortiz, both of whom were voted NJAC Second Team last year. James batted .308 with 36 hits, 27 runs, her first two career homers and 22 RBI in her rookie season. She started all 42 games and was named NJAC Rookie of the Week once.
 
Ortiz played in 26 games with 21 starts and made the most of her opportunities, batting .365 with 19 hits and three homers, all in NJAC play. Seniors Nicole Petrovich and Megan Katzmar add experience in the infield. Katzmar has been a key bat off the bench as the top pinch hitter in the NJAC over the last two years, leading the league in pinch hits and pinch hit at-bats both seasons.
 
Sophomores Caitlin Hughes and Megan Gray and junior Gracie Meyer add to the list of returnees in the infield. Freshmen Jayla Jamison, Michaela Luyber, Marion Fopeano and Gabby Pratts will also push for time. Jamison is an accomplished hitter who could be a newcomer to watch in her rookie campaign.
 
Senior Meg Murzello should return to the outfield full-time after shifting to catcher last season. Despite the position change, Murzello had another great year, leading the Ospreys in stolen bases (16), tying for the team lead in hits (45) and finishing second on the squad in batting (.341) and runs (30). Murzello banged out her 100th career hit against Kean on April 23.
 
Fellow senior Ashley Lobell heads into her third season as a starter in the outfield. Lobell had a breakout 2019 with a .298 average, 27 runs, 19 RBI, 10 stolen bases, six doubles and her first three career home runs. She joins Murzello and Cosenzo to give Stockton an experienced trio of players who each have played in over 110 career games.
 
Junior transfer Sarah Tannenbaum is expected to man an outfield spot after two seasons at Drexel. Tannenbaum saw action in 26 games in two years with the Dragons and also spent last summer playing for the Israeli National Team. Freshman Vanessa Tancini is the lone rookie outfielder on the roster this season.
 
Junior Marissa Semeraro is the top returnee in the circle. Semeraro picked up six wins and her first career shutout in 64 innings over the course of 19 appearances last season. Fellow junior Angie Dunphy is back after pitching 21 innings in 11 games in relief and earning her first career win and save a year ago.
 
Sophomore transfer Samantha McErlane will toss her first season at Stockton after posting a 5-2 record with two saves for Post University last season. In 51.0 innings, she recorded a 3.16 ERA and one shutout among her five victories. McErlane also is a solid hitter who could help her own cause at the plate or see at-bats as the designated player.
 
Behind the plate, junior catcher Madison Kelly returns after seeing time in 13 games with eight starts last season. In 38 chances behind the dish, Kelly committed just one error last year. Freshman Megan McManus should see some time at catcher as well, and she could provide some pop at the plate for the Ospreys.