Rarnod, Pa. … The College of New Jersey softball team rebounded from a 9-6 loss to claim an 8-2 victory at Cabrini University on Wednesday afternoon in Rarnod, Pa.
 
The Lions moved to 8-6 on the season, while the Cavaliers now stand at 4-10. Freshman Kristen Barrera (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) put forth a strong effort in the nightcap and is now off to a 3-0 start in her rookie season. The Lions launched two home runs in the second game to earn the double header split.
 
Game 1: Cabrini 9  TCNJ 6
 
A pair of home runs by Cavalier pitcher Jess Giordano led Cabrini to a 9-6 victory in the opener. Giordano belted a two-run homer in the first and followed with a grand slam in the sixth to cap a seven-run rally.
 
The Lions trailed 2-0 entering the fourth and erupted for five runs in the inning. Freshman Megan Mayernik (Columbus, NJ/Northern Burlington) opened the inning with a double and came around to score on a base hit by Gaby Bennett (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert). Jenna Schwartz (Branchburg, NJ/Somerville) drew a bases loaded walk to knot the game at 2.
 
Freshman Danielle Carey (Maple Shade, NJ/Maple Shade) then delivered a two-run double and Arielle Couso (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) plated the fifth run with a fielder's choice.
 
Cabrini rallied for three runs in the sixth to tie the score. With two out, Giordano cleared the bases with her second long-ball of the game to put the Cavaliers on top 9-5. An unearned run in the seventh by TCNJ drew a run closer, but Giordano recorded the final out for her second win of the season.
 
Bennett and Mayernik finished with two hits apiece for the Lions.
 
Game 2: TCNJ 8  Cabrini 2
 
TCNJ wasted no time in taking control of game two as sophomore Jess Santelli (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) roped a two-out, two-run homer in the top of the first to give the Lions a quick spark following the game one loss.
 
In the second, TCNJ pushed four runs across to surge ahead, 6-0. A double to right field by Couso put runners at second and third with one out. Madison Levine (Oakland, NJ/Indian Hills) lifted a sacrifice fly to score Nerlyx Cerda, who pinch ran Schwartz. Couso crossed home plate on an infield error, and with two out, Annalilse Suitovsky (Warren Twp., NJ/Watchung Hills) deposited her second home run of the season. It was a two-shot to left that gave Barrera all the run support she would need.
 
Cabrini got one back in the bottom of the frame, but an RBI-single by Jess McGuire (Stockton, NJ/Hunterdon Central) in the third made it 7-1. Suitovsky singled to right field to score Francesca Pugliese (Langhorne, Pa/Villa Joseph Marie) for her third run batted in for the game.
 
Barrera went all seven innings for the complete game win. She surrendered two runs on nine hits and struck out two.
 
Suitovsky, Bennett, and Carey all finished with two hits in the second game.
 
TCNJ will open its New Jersey Athletic Conference schedule when they host Rutgers-Newark this Saturday, April 1 at Dr. June Walker Field. The first game is scheduled for noon.