Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
Ewing, NJ...The College of New Jersey softball team wrapped up the top seed in the upcoming New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament as the Lions finished the regular season on top of the conference standings. TCNJ clinched home-field advantage throughout the conference tournament with a doubleheader sweep over New Jersey City University taking the opening game 9-1 and then won the second contest 11-1 with both of those games going five innings.
TCNJ, which is ranked seventh in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association, is now 30-6 on the season marking the first time since the 2000 season they have hit the 30-win plateau. The finished with a conference-best 16-2 record and will host Richard Stockton College in a first-round game in the conference tournament on Tuesday, May 4 at 4 p.m.
The Lions will also weekend portion of the tournament as the top seed on May 7-9.
The Gothic Knights capped their season at 14-26 and 1-17 in conference play.
Between games, the Lions recognized the efforts of the team's three seniors for their hard work and dedication to the program. Honored were Dani Hagel (Egg Harbor City, NJ/Oakcrest), Ashley Minervini (Cliffside Park, NJ/Cliffside Park), and Ellen Seavers (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood).
Game 1
TCNJ 8, New Jersey City University 1 (5 innings)
The Lions officially clinched the regular-season title in the opening game with the trio of seniors dominating the spotlight. Minervini fired a two-hitter in picking up her 14th victory of the season.
Seavers and Hagel did their damage in the second as they belted back-to-back homers to left field extending TCNJ's lead at the time to 8-0.
The Lions started fast in their initial at bat of the game scoring six times in the bottom of the first. Freshman Kelly Hommen (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) started the outburst with a RBI double and Seavers immediately followed with another double making it a 2-0 game. Katelyn Congilose (Toms River, NJ/Monsignor Donovan) squeezed in another run with a bunt, while Caitlyn Seamster (Edison, NJ/John P. Stevens) drilled a triple to the gap in right driving in two more runs. The final run of the inning came when Seamster raced home on an infield hit by Michelle Kent (Sparta, NJ/Pope John).
The Gothic Knights plated their only run in the fourth as Stephanie Gomez (South Plainfield, NJ/Belleville) reached on an error and later stole home on a failed pick-off attempt.
TCNJ got that run right back in the latter portion of the inning pushing the margin back to eight as Seamster singled in Hagel.
Seamster and Seavers each had two hits in the win for the Lions, with Seamster driving in three runs and Seavers two.
Game 2
TCNJ 11, New Jersey City University 1 (5 innings)
The Lions completed the sweep in the second game once again getting off to a good start. Sophomore Crystal Lee (Dover, NJ/Morris Knolls) singled and later scored on an error, while Seavers made it 2-0 with a squeeze bunt scoring Ashley Sogluizzo (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South).
Junior Colleen Cawley (Riverton, NJ/Holy Cross) made it 3-0 in the second inning as she hit a sacrifice fly to left scoring Seamster.
TCNJ continued to push runs across in the third scoring eight more times taking advantage of three NJCU miscues increasing the lead to 11-0.
The Gothic Knights spoiled the shutout in the fourth as Ashley O'Beirne (Wood-Ridge, NJ/Immaculate Conception) doubled in Tara Perrucci (East Rutherford, NJ/Wallington).
Pitcher Lauren Fitzsimmons (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) collected her 16th win of the season for TCNJ allowing the one run on nine hits with nine strikeouts.
Seamster had another solid game at the plate for the Lions picking up two more hits and driving in a run.
