Gloucester CC Softball Wins First NJCAA National Championship

Gloucester County College captured the Division III NJCAA National Tournament softball championship on Saturday with a 6-4 win over College of DuPage.

Gloucester snapped a 4-4 tie with two runs in the top of the seventh to win its first national softball title.

"This is unbelievable," Gloucester second baseman Justine Mattia said.

Mattia started the winning rally with a lead-off single in the seventh. She scored on a two-out throwing error to snap the tie and Lauren O'Rourke followed with a bad-hop RBI single to left.

Kristina Morgan then pitched a scoreless bottom of the seventh to secure the victory. Morgan came on in relief and threw three scoreless innings for the win.

"It feels great," Gloucester coach Steve DePasquale said.

Roadrunners catcher Caitlyn Pipolo went 2-for-3 and had RBI singles in her first two at-bats as Gloucester built a 4-0 lead.

"I was actually more nervous before the game," Pipolo said. "Once we were up 4-nothing, I knew no matter what, we were going to win."

Gloucester finishes the season 49-5. DuPage, ranked No. 1 in the final national poll, finishes 50-8 and was denied a fifth crown in school history.

"I never felt so close to a team," Pipolo said. "This is the best group of girls ever."