Vayda Pino belted a pair of homers and drove in four runs as top-seeded Gloucester, No. 18 in the NJ.com Top 20, opened its state title defense with a 16-1 win over 16th-seeded Lower Cape May in the first round of the NJSIAA South Jersey, Group 2 playoffs in Gloucester.
The Lions (16-5) extended their winning streak to six and moved on to the quarterfinals. They will host ninth-seeded Sterling, a 5-2 winner over eighth-seeded Middle Township.
Gloucester defeated Sterling twice during the regular season, 5-1 and 5-0.
Pino hit her second and third home runs of the season and was also hit by a pitch. Lauren Parry singled, drove in three runs and scored and Haylee Zuccarelli added a triple and two RBIs.
Emma Dick tossed a three-hitter and fanned five in the four-inning game.
Raegan Notch singled and knocked in a run for Lower Cape May (4-15).
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