Montclair, NJ... Getting off to a fast start was something The College of New Jersey head coach Sally Miller stressed to her team before they took the field in the second round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference Softball Tournament on Friday. The players did exactly that as the Lions scored in their initial at bat and went on to blank Ramapo College 2-0.
 
Second-seeded TCNJ (24-14) will play at noon tomorrow against Kean University.
 
The Lions manufactured that early lead as they plated in a run in the top of the first. Senior Crystal Lee (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Knolls) got things going with a single and one pitch later moved into scoring position stealing second. After a successful sacrifice bunt by Michelle Casale (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex), Lee covered the final 60 feet on a single by Ashley Sogluizzo (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South) giving TCNJ a 1-0 lead.
 
That run turned out to be more than enough for senior pitcher Lauren Fitzsimmons (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan). Fitzsimmons fired a one-hitter and posted 11 strikeouts. She faced her biggest threat in the bottom of the seventh when the Roadrunners had runners on first and second with one out, but a pair ground outs ended the inning.
 
In the top half of that inning, pinch-hitter Corinne Minicozzi (Hawthorne, NJ/Hawthorne) made the most of her chance as the Lion sophomore doubled to left and promptly scored two batters later when Lee doubled down the line in left extending the lead to 2-0.
 
Junior Liz Huttner (Princeton Junction, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro South) had a solid game at the plate collecting three hits in four at-bats, while Lee reached base in four plate appearances finishing 2-for-2 and also received a pair of intentional walks.
 
Sixth-seeded Ramapo finished its season at 26-13.