Galloway, NJ… The College of New Jersey softball team came up clutch late in a pair of game as they swept Stockton University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon in Galloway, NJ.
 
The Lions scored four runs in the sixth in the opener to capture a 6-5 victory. They broke a 1-1 tie with three runs in the seventh to steal the nightcap 4-1 as complete the sweep. TCNJ moved to 16-6 on the season and 9-3 in the NJAC. The Ospreys fell to 14-9 overall and 4-8 in conference play.
 
Game 1
TCNJ 6, Stockton University 5
 
The Lions erased an early 3-0 deficit and took the lead for the first time in the top of the sixth, scoring four runs to claim the opener.
 
After Stockton took an early lead with three runs in the bottom of the third, TCNJ cut into the deficit with a run in the fifth. Junior Deanna Utter (Byram, NJ/Lenape Valley) singled to right center, plating sophomore Colleen Phelan (Tinton Falls, NJ/Monmouth Regional) to make it 3-1.
 
TCNJ started its big sixth inning by getting the first two batters on base. Freshman Jess Stevenson (Belmar, NJ/Red Bank Regional) was issued a walk and sophomore Steph Vuono (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) followed with a base hit to right. After a successful sacrifice bunt by junior Ashtin Helmer (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) put both runners in scoring position, freshman Madison Levine (Oakland, NJ/Indian Hills) singled in pinch-runner Rachel Cipolla (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield Memorial) to make it a one-run game.
 
The Lions then tied the game on a base hit by freshman Bria Bartsch (Montville, NJ/Mt. St. Dominic Academy) to score Vuono. A fielding error loaded the bases for the Lions and junior Jamie Purcell (Nutley, NJ/Mt. St. Dominic Academy) came up with a clutch base hit, putting TCNJ in front for the first time at 4-3. Utter tacked on another run with a sacrifice fly to center field, capping the team's four-run inning.
 
TCNJ manufactured an addition run in the seventh as Vuono single, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and then scored on a ground out by Helmer.
 
That extra run was critical as Stockton was able to get two runs back in the last of the seventh and had the tying run on second. Freshman Sam Platt (Cedar Grove, NJ/Mt. St. Dominic) slammed the door shut, striking out the final batter swinging to secure her second save of the season. Helmer picked up her seventh win of the spring.
 
Bartsch had a big game at the plate for the Lions with three hits in four at-bats, while Vuono had a pair of hits.
 
Game 2
TCNJ 4, Stockton University 1
 
In a tight game that was controlled by both starting pitcher, TCNJ erupted for three runs in the seventh to take the back-end game. Junior Katie Hourihan (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) gained the mound decision for the Lions, while Platt sealed her second save in under two hours.
 
After three scoreless frames, TCNJ broke through with a run in the fourth without the luxury of a hit. Purcell reached on an infield miscue and moved to second on the errant throw. After Utter was hit by a pitch, Stevenson dropped down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. Buono lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to manufacture the first run of the contest.
 
The Ospreys responded immediately as starting pitcher Samantha Shockey (Deptford, NJ/Deptford) helped herself by slamming a double to open the inning. Dominique Dorris (Mantua, NJ/Clearview) singled to right-center to plate Shockey and knot the game at one apiece.  Hourihan induced two ground balls and a harmless fly ball to escape any further damage.
 
The Lions threatened in the fifth when sophomore Nerilyx Cerda (North Bergen, NJ/High Tech) doubled to right-center. But Shockey was able to work out of the jam to keep the score even.
 
In the sixth, TCNJ put another runner in scoring position. Utter doubled to right-center field with one out, but Schockey registered a fly ball and pop up to move into the bottom of the sixth.
 
More drama ensued in the bottom of that frame. Nicole Tomo (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) doubled to center to lead off the inning and advanced to third when Shockey grounded out. Dorris drove a fly ball to right field that was caught by junior Kristen Fitzsimmons (Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial). Tomo attempted to tag with the go-ahead run but Fitzsimmons gunned her down at the plate to keep it a 1-1 tie.
 
With two outs and nobody on in the seventh, Cerda got the rally started with a single to left. Bartsch followed with a base hit down the right-field line before Levine walked to load the bases. Purcell worked a walk to force in the go-ahead run. Utter singled to center to chase home Purcell and Levine raced home on a wild pitch. When the dust settled, TCNJ held a sturdy 4-1 lead.
 
A pair of batters reached for the Ospreys in the bottom of the seventh and Platt came in with two outs to relieve Hourihan. She registered her second save of the day when third baseman Olivia Fahr (Stewartsburg, NJ/Phillipsburg) fielded a ground ball and stepped on the bag to end the game.
 
Hourihan scattered six hits and walked one to move to 7-4 on the season. Platt now has three saves.
 
Utter and Cerda each had a single and a double.
 
TCNJ continues league play this Saturday, April 18 when they host Kean University in an NJAC doubleheader that begins at 1 p.m.