Late rally completes sweep over Muhlenberg

Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey softball team used a late rally in the second game of a doubleheader to earn a sweep against visiting Muhlenberg College on Wednesday.

TCNJ won the first game by the score of 5-1, and then scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull out an 8-5 victory in the second game. The two wins put the Lions at 9-3 on the season, while the Mules fell to 3-11.

Game 1: TCNJ 5, Muhlenberg 1 (Box Score)
The Lions used the long ball to open the scoring as Katie Davenport (River Edge, NJ/River Dell Regional) hit her first career home run with a two-run shot to center field.

TCNJ added another run in the last of the fifth as pinch runner Taylor Cianciatta (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) scored on a wild pitch.

The Mules got on the board in the sixth as RiRi Ferrigno (Westville, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) lofted a sacrifice fly to center field making it a 3-1 game.

The Lions tacked on two more runs in the sixth as Lauren Musacchia (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) and Jess Kohut (Hillsdale, NJ/Pascack Valley) each drove in runs with base hits.

Picking up the win on the mound for the Lions was senior Julianne Lajiness (Monroe Twp., NJ/Notre Dame) as she went the distance allowing three hits with nine strikeouts. The win put her at 5-0 on the season.

Game 2: TCNJ 8, Muhlenberg 5 (Box Score)
TCNJ scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning for the come-from-behind win. Davenport put the Lions in front for good with a two-run double off of the third baseman and then two more runs came across on a Muhlenberg error.

TCNJ freshman Ashley Minervini (Cliffside, NJ/Cliffside) picked up the win pitching 4-2/3 scoreless relief while recording tying a career high with eight strikeouts.

Like the first game, TCNJ jumped out in front with a home run as Jen Hughes (Huntington Station, NY/Walt Whitman) hit a three-run shot to center.

The Mules quickly came back with four runs in the top of the second with Hilary Marinchak (Glen Mills, PA/Garnet Valley) coming up with the big hit as the senior cleared the bases with a three-run triple.

Muhlenberg made it a 5-3 lead in the top of the third with a run, but the Lions got it right back as Davenport walked and scored two batters later on a single by Danielle Hagel (Egg Harbor City, NJ/Oakcrest).

The Lions are at Ursinus College on Thursday and then open New Jersey Athletic Conference play on Saturday heading to 13th-ranked Ramapo College for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.

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