Box Score 1 | Box Score 2


Ewing, NJ... The College of New Jersey softball team swept William Paterson University in a key New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Lions (19-11, 8-4) moved by the Pioneers (22-8, 7-5) with the wins, creating a four-team tie for second place in the conference. TCNJ claimed the first game 4-3 in eight innings and completed the sweep with a 4-2 triumph in the nightcap.
 
In the opening game,  senior Lauren Fitzsimmons (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) became TCNJ's all-time strikeout leader with her fifth recorded out on strikes of the contest. The veteran right-hander celebrated her individual accomplishment by earning a win and a save in a pair of impressive victories for the Lions.
 
Fitzsimmons allowed only three hits in eight innings and finished with five strikeouts, with the final one establishing a new school record of 424 career strikeouts. The milestone came in the seventh inning when she fanned Chrissy Austin (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) looking. The record of 423 was previously held by Mandy Schenck (1999–2002).
 
Game 1
TCNJ 4, William Paterson 3 (8 innings)
Sophomore Nicole Brodbeck (Atco, NJ/Hammonton) singled home Liz Huttner (Princeton Junction, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro South) in the bottom of the eighth inning giving the Lions the walk-off win.
 
Huttner also played a role in the top of the inning making a sliding catch for the final out, preventing the Pioneers from scoring despite starting the inning with a runner on second with the international tiebreaker rule.
 
The game got off to a good start for TCNJ as the speed of senior Crystal Lee (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Knolls) put the host in front in the bottom of the first as she laced a single up the middle and then stole second to move into scoring position. Lee then took off on contact when Kelly Hommen (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) grounded to the right side and came around to score from second for a 1-0 lead.
 
William Paterson used the long ball to propel its way into the lead as senior Raquel Roder (Hoboken, NJ/Hoboken) hit a home run to left center in the fourth inning  scoring Rachel Cannata (Waldwick, NJ/Paramus Catholic) making it a 2-1 game. Cannata reached with a double.
 
The Pioneers added another run in the fifth as Jessica Maciolek (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) scored on a TCNJ error putting the difference at 3-1.
 
TCNJ erased that deficit in the last of the seventh to force extra innings as Michelle Casale (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and then Hommen drove in the tying run with a base hit.
 
Lee finished the game going a perfect 4-for-4, scored twice, and also stole a pair of bases.
 
Game 2
TCNJ 4 William Paterson 2
 
The Pioneers took a quick lead with an unearned run in the first, but the Lions immediately tied the game in the bottom of the frame. Lee walked, stole second, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Casale. Huttner then roped a line drive through the shortstop hole to plate Lee.
 
TCNJ brought out the lumber in the third as the middle of its line-up put up three quick runs. Hommen turned on a pitch and drove a base hit to right field before Huttner laced a single to right-center field. With runners at first and third, Huttner swiped second to put two runners in scoring position.
 
With two strikes, Ashley Sogluizzo (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South) launched  a towering, three-run home run to left field to put the Lions up 4-1. It was the second home run of the season for the junior second baseman.
 
WPU got a run back in the fourth. Sophmore Rachel Cannata (Waldwick, NJ/Paramus Catholic) walked before freshman Kelsey Principe (Parsippany, NJ/Parsippany) served as a pinch-runner. Pitcher Kelsey Hand (Mountainville, NY/Cornwall Central) helped herself out by stroking a base hit through the middle to plate Principe and cut the deficit to 4-2.
 
Fitzsimmons entered the game in the sixth with two outs and two runners in scoring position. The cagey veteran did precisely what head coach Sally Miller hoped and got a quick pop-out to second to end the threat. Fitzsimmons closed out the victory in the seventh for her first save of the season.
 
Sophomore Alex Carisone (Branchburg, NJ/Rutgers Prep) pitched an outstanding game to earn her seventh win of the season. She allowed just one earned run on three this and struck out two.
 
Huttner was a perfect three-for-three at the plate with a run scored and an RBI. Sogluizzo had two hits and drove in three and senior Katelyn Congilose (Toms River, NJ/Monsignor Donovan) also had a pair of safeties.
 
Hand suffered her second loss of the season, while sophomore Katelyn Miele (Flanders, NJ/Pope John XXIII) had a standout day at the plate going three-for-four on offense.
 
TCNJ continues its conference slate on Saturday, April 24 hosting New Jersey City University for a doubleheader at 1 p.m.

Note: The Lions will also be hosting their Play for Orange Game in which TCNJ student-athletes will be raising money for a local Ewing girl who is undergoing treatments for Leukemia. A raffle and performance pledges will spearhead the cause on Saturday.