The New York University softball team completed its trip to the Sunshine State with a fifth and final doubleheader sweep on Friday, March 17, at the North Collier Regional Sports Complex in Naples, FL.

The 10-game winning streak sets a new program record. The old mark of nine-straight victories was set during the 2016 season.

The Violets, now 11-3 overall, finished its five-day schedule at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic with six-inning victories over SUNY Delhi (10-0) and Lesley University (9-1).

Another dominant pitching performance headlined the opener as Sophia Skerik shutout Delhi over the shortened contest. She only allowed two hits while striking out three batters in picking up her first win of the season.

"My drop ball was staying low in the zone, and I was going right after batters and attacking them," Skerik explained. "As a staff, we pick each other up and motivate each other to do the best we can."

Over the course of the trip, NYU pitchers only allowed four earned runs, while the Violets outscored their opponents   61-12

The bulk of the offense in game one was provided by Hannah Becker, who went 4-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Margaux Lesser added a 3-for-3 morning with an RBI and two runs scored. 

Marina Egbert, Olivia de Hesselle, Madi Hand, and Sophia Leon each had a pair of hits as NYU pounded out 18.

The second game featured the first career victory for Jayna Kramsky. She entered the game after starter Jessie Werthman departed with two outs in the top of the fourth, the bases loaded and NYU clinging to a 2-1 lead.

Kramsky induced Lesley's Mahlia Medina to ground out to second base.

Chloe Blanc's RBI single capped a three-run NYU rally in the top of the fifth, giving Kramsky more runs than she would need the rest of the way.

"I've been waiting for this for a long time and it feels really good," said Kramsky, a junior who did not see action as a sophomore and whose freshman season was wiped out by Covid. "When I came into the game today all I thought was that I'd been in this situation before in practices and scrimmages and I was prepared and ready."

Kramsky did not give up a hit in her 2.1 innings and struck out one batter. Werthman had five strikeouts in her 3.2 innings of work.

The pair was supported offensively by Lesser, who had three hits, as well as Blanc, de Hesselle, Lily Candelaria, Samantha Burggraf, and Emma Amidi. The fivesome had two hits each as the Violets totaled 14 in the game.  

"What we did this week will give us a lot of confidence," said Head Coach Now-Allah James.  "It was great to get back on the field after having to practice mostly indoors at home. We played great, pitched great, played solid defense, and had timely hits. I couldn't have asked for anything else."     

The Violets return to action next weekend for the beginning of University Athletic Association (UAA) competition. NYU will play a four-game series against Washington University in St. Louis beginning on Friday, March 24, in St. Louis, MO.