Salisbury, MD…The College of New Jersey softball team continued saw its modest four-game winning streak come to an end on Friday as the Lions opened the Salisbury Invitational with a loss before bouncing back for a win to pull out split.

The Lions (7-7) dropped the opening game of the day to Capital University by the score of 3-2 and then held off SUNY Geneseo, 5-1.

The Lions wrap up tournament action on Saturday facing Plattsburgh State and the host Sea Gulls.

Capital University 3, TCNJ 2
Box Score
 
The Lions fell behind early as Capital plated all three of their runs in the opening inning to take the lead. Those runs came against pitcher Ashley Minervini (Cliffside Park, NJ/Cliffside Park) as the junior saw her scoreless inning streak come to end a 23.1 innings.

Senior Kelly Armstrong (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) accounted for both of TCNJ's runs as she ripped a two-run homer in the second inning.

TCNJ 5, SUNY Geneseo 1 
Box Score

It was the Lions that jumped out to the early lead in the second game plating three runs. Armstrong opened the scoring by driving in Colleen Cawley (Riverton, NJ/Holy Cross) with a squeeze bunt. Freshman Katelyn Congilose (Toms River, NJ/Monsignor Donovan) drove in the other two runs in the inning extending TCNJ's advantage to 3-0.

Armstrong had another big at bat in the top of the seventh as she belted her second home run of the day. This one was also a two-run shot scoring junior Danielle Hagel (Egg Harbor City, NJ/Oakcrest), who had singled.

Freshman Lauren Fitzsimmons (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) picked up the win with her second straight complete game and recorded a career-high nine strikeouts.

Armstrong and junior Ellen Seavers (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) each finished with two hits for the Lions.