Game 1: Box score

Game 2: Box score

Camden, NJ ... An Ellen Seavers (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) base hit in the bottom of the seventh inning over a drawn-in infield gave The College of New Jersey softball team a thrilling victory and sweep as they downed Rutgers University-Camden 8-0 and 2-1 to maintain its first-place position in the New Jersey Athletic Conference.

The Lions (25-5, 11-1 NJAC) took advantage of another pair of standout pitching performances and received timely hitting to win for the 25th time in the 30 games this season. TCNJ took care of business as they enter into the toughest part of its conference schedule beginning with a doubleheader against Ramapo College this Saturday at Lions Park.

Game One

Sophomore Katelyn Cagilose (Toms River, NJ/Monsignor Donovan) led the offense with three hits and two runs batted in to lead the Lions to an 8-0 win. TCNJ scored single runs in the second and third innings before opening the game up with a three-run fifth inning to seize control of the opener.

Ashley Minervini (Cliffside Park, NJ/Cliffside Park) tossed a complete game two-hit shutout striking out five. The senior right-hander didn't walk a batter and only faced one over the minimum 22 batters for her 11th mound victory of the year.

Sophomore Crystal Lee (Dover, NJ/Morris Knolls) remained hot at the plate with a pair of hits, two RBIs, and a run scored. Caitlin Seamster (Edison, NJ/John P. Stevens) also had two hits in the opener.

Game Two

The Scarlet Raptors (16-11, 5-7 NJAC) took a 1-0 lead in the third, but Lee tied it up in the fifth driving in her third run of the day.

With the game tied 1-1, sophomore Lauren Fitzsimmons (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater Raritan) did what she does best and that was silence the opposing offense. She registered 1-2-3 innings in the sixth and seventh to give the Lions a chance to win it in the seventh.

Junior Colleen Crawley (Riverton, NJ/Holy Cross) singled with one out to get things rolling in the final frame. Pinch-runner Sara Owen (Howell, NJ/Howell) advanced to third when freshman Ashely Sogluizzo (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South) singled to right field. Rutgers elected to intentionally walk freshman Kelly Hommen (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) and Seavers made them pay as she singled to right to end the game.

Fitzsimmons remained perfect on the season earning her 14th win giving up two hits and striking out three.

TCNJ hosts Ramapo College on Saturday, April 24 at Lions Park in a doubleheader beginning at 1 pm.