Montclair, NJ… The College of New Jersey softball team used an eight-run fifth inning to propel them to 2-0 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Softball Championship Tournament. The 19th-ranked Lions defeated Kean University 10-0 in five innings Friday afternoon. TCNJ is 30-6 on the season, while the Cougars fall to 26-12.
 
TCNJ opened the scoring in the third. After Annalise Suitovsky (Warren Twp., NJ/Watchung Hills) and Megan Mayernik (Columbus, NJ/Northern Burlington) reached with one out on a single and double respectively, Madison Levine (Oakland, NJ/Indian Hills) and Lauren Conroy (Aberdeen, NJ/Matawan Regional) delivered back-to-back RBI-singles to put the Lions up 2-0. Mayernik would finish the game 4-for-4.
 
TCNJ would break the game open in the fifth. Again with one out, Suitovsky and Mayernik both reached base. Levine was then hit by a pitch loading the bases. Conroy followed with a single that brought a run home and Gaby Bennett (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) continued the rally, reaching on catcher's interference. That brought Lion's catcher Jess McGuire (Stockton, NJ/Hunterdon Central Regional) to the plate. McGuire took a first pitch strike, then launched the 0-1 pitch over the left field fence for a grand slam. TCNJ would add on two more runs in the inning that saw 13 Lions come to the plate and eight score.
 
In the circle, Alanna Namit (Mountainside, NJ/Governor Livingston) was solid, allowing just two hits and striking out six to earn the victory.
 
TCNJ returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, when they face the winner of Stockton University and Ramapo College, who are competing in the third game today.