Clermont, NJ ... The College of New Jersey softball team scored three runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game and eventually topped Amherst College 7-6 in eight innings on Friday afternoon in Clermont, Fla.
 
The Lions defeated Bowdoin College 3-1 earlier in the day and will return north with an overall record of 8-5.
 
The victory over Amherst was a thriller. Trailing 5-2 and down to their last out, TCNJ scored three times to draw even at 5-5. They took a 7-5 lead in the eighth and the Purple and White drew within a run. But Ashtin Helmer (Succusunna, NJ/Roxbury) induced a routine ground out to first to secure the Lions second win of the day.

 
Game 1: TCNJ 3  Bowdoin 1
 
Freshman Jess Santelli (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) knocked in all three runs as the Lions silenced Bowdoin College, 3-1. Sam Platt (Cedar Grove, NJ/Mount Saint Dominic Academy) went the distance to raise her mound record to 5-1 on the season.
 
With the game scoreless in the third, Santelli ripped a two-run triple to plate seniors Steph Vuono (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) and Kristen Fitzsimmons (Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial). Two innings later, Vuono singled and stole second base. Santelli delivered again with a single to center field to chase Vuono and give TCNJ a 3-0 lead.
 
That was all the cushion Platt would require. She scattered four hits and struck out four. Platt was touched for an unearned run in the sixth, but pitched a perfect seventh to secure the win.
 
Game 2:  TCNJ 7  Amherst College 6 (8 innings)
 
With the Lions down to their final out, freshman Jess McGuire (Stockton, NJ/Hunterdon Central) stroked an RBI-double to shave the deficit to 5-3. Sophomore Madison Levine (Oakland, NJ/Indian Hills) then delivered a single to left field to score freshman Gaby Bennett (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) and McGuire to send the game to extra innings.
 
In the eighth, Vuono made sure TCNJ would fly north on a winning note. With classmate Jaime Purcell (Nutley, NJ/Mount Saint Dominic Academy) on third, Vuono tripled to center field to score Purcell. Moments later, there was a confusion on whether the umpire called a ball or strike on the batter Cathy Drury (Flanders, NJ/Mount. Olive). The veteran infielder alertly made a dash for the plate and successfully stole home to give the Lions a two-run advantage.
 
That insurance run would prove to be the difference as the Purple and White tallied a run in the bottom of the frame. Helmer, who entered the game in the third inning, recorded the final out for her second win of the year. She scattered five hits over six innings and surrendered one earned run.
 
Levine finished 3-for-4 with a run scored and two runs batted in. Purcell and Fitzsimmons each had two hits and Bennett scored twice.
 
TCNJ has a few days off before returning to action on Wednesday, March 23. They will visit Muhlenberg College for a doubleheader that begins at 3:00 p.m. The Lions will host SUNY Cortland on Friday, March 25 in their home opener at Dr. June Walker Field. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.