Jersey City, NJ… The College of New Jersey softball team (14-15-1, 6-9-1 NJAC) kept their playoff chances alive with a sweep of New Jersey City University (10-24, 0-16 NJAC) Friday afternoon. The games were rescheduled from Tuesday due to inclement weather. The Lions now sit one point back of sixth-place Montclair State University ahead of their double header tomorrow. TCNJ won the opening game today 9-4 and took game two 3-0.

The Lions fell behind early in game one, as Brittany Paulikas hit a three-run home run to put the Gothic Knights up 3-0 after the first frame. Annalise Suitovsky (Warren Twp., NJ / Watchung Hills) led off the top of the second with a walk. She then stole second base and would score on a throwing error. Daniella Marino (Hazlet, NJ / Raritan) kept the rally going with a run scoring single. Megan Hevey (Robbinsville, NJ / Robbinsville) followed with a triple to score Marino and tie the game. Megan Mayernik (Columbus, NJ / Northern Burlington) capped off the inning with an infield single to give TCNJ the lead.

Naomi Olacio tied the game in the bottom of third with an RBI single. The Lions aggressiveness on the base paths paid off in the fifth inning. TCNJ stole two bases and forced NJCU into two errors, scoring a run on both of the miscues. In the next inning, the Lions again capitalized on Gothic Knight mistakes, scoring on an error and using the extra out to allow Gaby Bennett (Hamilton, NJ / Steinert) to hit an RBI single. Mayernik hit another run-scoring single in the seventh inning to produce the final score.

Sam Platt (Cedar Grove, NJ / Mount Saint Dominic Academy) struck out six batters in the complete game victory.

In the nightcap, Sara Bielamowicz (Lawrence Twp., NJ / Lawrence) shut down the Gothic Knights offense in game two allowing nary a run and striking out six batters for her second shutout of the season.

Offensively, Hevey put TCNJ on the board in the third with a single that scored Madison Levine (Oakland, NJ / Indian Hills). Jenna Schwartz (Branchburg, NJ / Somerville) provided the insurance in the top of the seventh with a pinch-hit two-run single.

With the wins, TCNJ currently sits with 13 conference points and Montclair State has 14 conference points. The squads will close out the regular season against each other tomorrow afternoon with a double header at Montclair beginning at 1:00 pm. The Lions will need a sweep or a win and a tie to move ahead of the Red Hawks for the final playoff spot.