Senior Day
Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey softball team (12-15-1, 4-9-1 NJAC) split a conference double header against Kean University (26-6, 9-5 NJAC) on senior day Sunday afternoon at Dr. June Walker Field. The Cougars took game one 9-3 and the Lions fought back in game two for a 3-2 victory. After the games, the team honored its two graduating members.
The Cougars struck in the top of the first as Caroline Ratti drew a lead-off walk. Ratti advanced to third, just beating the tag on a sacrifice bunt and would later score on a passed ball. Kean extended the lead on the strength of two Lions errors, scoring on a Ratti sacrifice fly.
The Lions responded in the bottom of the second.
Jess McGuire (Stockton, NJ / Hunterdon Central Regional) put TCNJ on the board with a no-doubt home run to straight away center field. Kean ensured that no comeback would come to fruition, tacking on two runs in the top of the fourth on a home run off the bat of Emily Sabo. A bases clearing double by Jacqueline Riley in the top of the sixth and a two-run single from Cayleen Rizo in the top of the seventh spotted the Cougars a 9-1 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh
Francesca Pugliese (Langhorne, PA / Villa Joseph Marie) hit a pinch-hit two-run home run, the first hit of her career, to produce the final score.
The Lions flipped the script in the nightcap, scoring in each of the first two innings. In the first,
Jess Santelli (Hillsborough, NJ / Hillsborough) went yard for the third time this season to stake TCNJ to a 2-0 lead. In the second,
Helena Coppola (Lincroft, NJ / St. John Vianney) and
Danielle Carey (Maple Shade, NJ / Maple Shade) hit singles bracketing a sacrifice bunt to put runners on the corners. Coppola scored on a sacrifice fly.
Kean fought back with a run in the fourth and was threatening in the fifth with the first three batters reaching safely to cut the lead to 3-2. Starting pitcher
Sara Bielamowicz (Lawrence Township, NJ / Lawrence) induced a fielder's choice, flyout and groundout to end the inning.
Game one starter
Sam Platt (Cedar Grove, NJ / Mount Saint Dominic Academy) came on in relief after the first two batters of the sixth reached safely. Following a sacrifice bunt which moved the runners to second and third, the Lions produced one of the more unique double plays you will see. Santelli fielded the ground ball at first and stepped on the bag for the second out of the inning then threw behind the runner at second base causing the runner on third to head for the plate. Shortstop
Megan Mayernik (Columbus, NJ / Northern Burlington) completed the relay to McGuire at the plate to prevent the run and end the inning.
The seventh inning provided drama as well as a walk followed by a double to the left center field wall placed runners on second and third with two outs before Platt induced a pop out to herself to end the game.
TCNJ now sits four points behind sixth-placed Stockton and five behind fifth-placed Montclair State with four games remaining.
The Lions return to action Tuesday, April 25 at 3:00 pm as they begin their final road trip of the season against New Jersey City University.
