Salisbury, MD… The College of New Jersey softball team opened the season with a pair of victories on day one of the Salisbury Invitational. The Lions defeated Salisbury University 6-4, then took down Keystone College 7-1.
 
Against the Seagulls, TCNJ raced to a lead in the top of the third. With runners on second and third with two outs, Annalise Suitovsky (Warren Twp., NJ/Watchung Hills) knocked a single back up the middle to score Katie Winchock (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater Raritan). Madison Levine (Oakland, NJ/Indian Hills) followed with a two-run double to extend the lead to 3-0.
 
Leading off the top of the fourth Jess McGuire (Stockton, NJ/Hunterdon Central) homered to left field. Her fourth career home run, she has homered in the Lions opening game in each of her three seasons. The Lions added on a pair of runs later in the inning, scoring on a throwing error and an RBI double by Gaby Bennett (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert).
 
The Seagulls got a run back in the bottom of the sixth and began to rally with one out in the seventh. Salisbury got back-to-back run scoring hits, but Sam Platt (Cedar Grove, NJ/Mount Saint Dominic Academy) induced a run scoring ground out before recording her lone strike out to secure the complete game victory.
 
Against Keystone, Levine continued her hot day at the plate, ripping a pair of RBI doubles in the second and fourth innings, later scoring in the fourth, as the Lions jumped out to a 3-1 lead.
 
TCNJ broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth. The Lions loaded the bases with one out and Bennett recorded an RBI ground out. Suitovsky followed with a two-run double as TCNJ extended the lead to 6-1. Allie Immerso (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) got an RBI single in the sixth to produce the final score.
 
In the circle, Alanna Namit (Mountainside, NJ/Governor Livingston) went the opening three innings without allowing a hit and striking out six before ceding way to Eliza Sweet (Shamong, NJ/Seneca), who pitched four scoreless innings and struck out three to close out the game and record her first collegiate victory.
 
Overall, Levine led the way for the Lions with four hits, three doubles, and four RBIs. Suitovsky and Bennett each had a pair of hits including a double and multiple RBIs. Immerso, Marissa Devincenzo (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central), and Kaitlin Kocinski (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) each recorded their first collegiate hits.
 
The Lions will play each team again tomorrow beginning at 10:00 AM.