Union, NJ... Sophomore Lindsey Williams (Roxbury, NJ/Roxbury) hit a two-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift The College of New Jersey softball team to a 2-1 victory over Alvernia University in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
 
Williams singled through the left side as junior Kelly Hommen (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) raced home from second base, keeping the Lions in the winner's bracket of the Union, NJ Regional hosted by Kean University. TCNJ (26-15) will face a familiar foe on Friday taking on New Jersey Athletic Conference opponent Montclair State University at 2 p.m. The Red Hawks advanced with an 8-0 win over Baruch College.
 
The stage for the winning hit was set in the bottom of the sixth when the Lions erased a 1-0 deficit. Junior center fielder Liz Huttner (Princeton Junction, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro South) laced a two-out double into the gap in right field scoring Crystal Lee (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Knolls). The Lions had the potential for a bigger inning, but they had a runner tagged out at the plate and Alvernia shortstop Katie Manowski (Grasonville, NJ/Kent Island) made a diving catch on a line drive to end the inning.
 
Alvernia (36-10) opened the scoring in the top of the fourth as Danielle Kitchen (Saylorsburg, PA/Pleasant Valley) hit a solo home run with two outs.
 
Senior pitcher Lauren Fitzsimmons (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) went the distance for the Lions, recording her career-best 18^th victory of the year. She scattered seven hits over the nine innings and recorded five strikeouts without issuing a walk.
 
Williams finished the game with three hits, while Huttner and Hommen each had a pair.
 
Senior Katelyn Congilose (Toms River, NJ/Monsignor Donovan) singled in the seventh inning for the Lions, registering the 100^th of her career.