The College of New Jersey Athletics

The 1989 TCNJ softball team was the third to win an NCAA Championship under legendary coach Dr. June Walker. Behind a group of hitters that were always on base such as Jill Herman, Diane Klueg, Lisa Costello, and Patricia Kinghorn, and a one-two punch of Jill Marghella and Annette Tomasello in the circle, the Lions were a tough and resilient group that never gave up.
 
After falling in their opening game of the season, the Lions Lions bounced back with an eight game winning streak, avenging their loss to Allegheny and defeating an eventual NCAA Finalist in Buena Vista.
 
Holding a 10-4 record, the Lions again got hot winning the second game of a double header against Ithaca to spark a 15-game winning streak that featured eight shutout victories. The Lions went 6-0 during that stretch against conference competition sweeping double headers against William Paterson, Kean, and Rowan.
 
Across the final third of the season, TCNJ faced a tough group of opponents including a trio of Division I teams. The Lions fought hard in those games earning a split against Princeton and a sweep over Monmouth.
 
The Lions opened play in the NCAA Regional against Virginia Wesleyan. TCNJ pitching was up to the task as the Lions earned a 5-0 win. The Lions then dropped a 3-2 game to Rowan University, forcing the Lions to face elimination games. The Lions topped Montclair State 9-2 and would then need to win back-to-back games over the Profs to advance to the NCAA Finals. It took eight innings, but the Lions won the first game 2-1 to set up a winner-take-all Regional Final. The Lions pitching was dominant in a 3-0 victory to advance TCNJ to the Finals.
 
On the national stage, the Lions won a pitchers dual over Central (Iowa) 1-0. The Lions then topped Calvin 5-3 and Buena Vista 4-2. In the Championship game, Eastern Connecticut State would push the Lions to nine innings, but the Lions came out on top 8-7 to secure the National Championship.
 
Herman, Pam McCreesh, and Denise Myock each earn All-Tournament Team honors.
 
Seven Lions hit .300 or better for the season, as the team finished with a 39-10 record and outscored their opponents 278-88.
 
Marghella, Herman, Klueg, and McCreesh earned All-America honors, and Klueg was named the 1989 Division III Player of the Year.