Camden, N.J. … The College of New Jersey softball team split a double-header with Rutgers-Camden this afternoon. The Lions dropped the first game 7-2, but rallied late in the second contest to earn a 2-1 win. TCNJ improves to 19-10 overall and 6-2 in NJAC play, which currently puts them in first place of the conference.
 
Game 1: TCNJ 2, Rutgers-Camden 7
 
Despite getting on the board first, TCNJ was unable to stop the Rutgers-Camden offensive from earning seven runs throughout the game.
 
Steph Vuono (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) started the game off right with a double, and would later reach home on a fielding error to score the Lions' first run.
 
The Scarlet Raptors got on the board too though, taking a 6-1 lead by the end of the fourth inning.
 
In the top of the fifth, Gaby Bennett (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) doubled to get on base, then scored a run when Jamie Purcell (Nutley, NJ/Mount Saint Dominic Academy) singled to left field.
 
Rutgers-Camden added a homerun to make it 7-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning.
 
Ashtin Helmer (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) got the start on the mound and pitched four innings, while striking out four batters. Sara Beilamowicz (Lawrence Township, NJ/Lawrence) came in for relief during the fifth inning and finished out the game.
 
Leading the Lions offensively was Bennett, who went 2-for-4 from the plate with one RBI.
 
 
Game 2: TCNJ 2, Rutgers-Camden 1
 
The nightcap was mainly a game of defense, as it was scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning when the Scarlet Raptors got the first run.
 
But the Lions rallied in their last at bat, scoring two runs to win the game. Jess McGuire (Stockton, NJ/Hunterdon Central Regional) started things off by singling to shortstop. Nerylix Cerda (North Bergen, NJ/High Tech) came in to pinch run for her and advanced to third when Vuono hit her second double of the night.
 
Kristen Fitzsimmons (Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) singled to left field to drive in a run and then Bennett singled to get Vuono home too.
 
TCNJ held off Rutgers-Camden's offense in the bottom of the seventh to secure their 19th victory of the season.
 
Senior Sam Platt (Cedar Grove, NJ/Mount Saint Dominic Academy) pitched all seven innings to record her 11th win of the season. She allowed just three hits while striking out a season high seven batters.
 
The Lions return to action on April 16 when they travel to Rutgers-Newark for a conference doubleheader. Game one is slated for a 1 p.m. start with the second to follow at 3 p.m.