Clermont, FL…The College of New Jersey softball team opened the 2009 season dropping a pair of games in Florida. In the opener, the Lions saw their rally come up a run short in a 4-3 loss to Ohio Northern University and then fell to John Carroll University, 2-0, on Saturday.

The Lions are right back in action on Sunday, March 8 facing Emory University at 9 a.m. and Moravian College at 11 a.m.

Ohio Northern University 4, TCNJ 3 
Box Score

TCNJ rallied in the final two innings, but came up one run short against Ohio Northern. The Lions trailed 4-1 heading into the last of the sixth inning when senior Kelly Armstrong (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) plated junior Ellen Seavers (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) with a double.

The Lions pushed another run across in the bottom of the seventh as sophomore Amy Ullrich (Colonia, NJ/Colonia) lofted a sacrifice fly to left field scoring freshman Katelyn Congilose (Toms River, NJ/Monsignor Donovan) making it a 4-3 game. Ohio Northern was then able to get out of the inning with the tying run on base.

TCNJ also scored in the first inning as Armstrong doubled and scored on a base hit by junior Danielle Hagel (Egg Harbor City, NJ/Oakcrest).

Armstrong finished the game with a pair of doubles, a run scored, and a run batted in.

John Carroll University 2, TCNJ 0 
Box Score

Sophomore pitcher Alex Sietsma (Glen Rock, NJ/Glen Rock) suffered the loss despite turning in a solid effort with a complete game.

Armstrong and Colleen Cawley (Riverton, NJ/Holy Cross) each had hits for TCNJ.