SALISBURY, Md. –The No. 10 TCNJ softball team fell in both games of the doubleheader against Salisbury on Sunday. The Lions and Sea Gulls completed the suspended game from Feb. 16 first, with TCNJ finishing a 5-3 win. The Lions fell in game one, 11-5, then dropped a 2-0 pitcher's duel in game two. The Sea Gulls improved to 15-2 overall, while TCNJ dipped to 4-4 on the young season.
TCNJ led the halted game, 5-0, in the bottom of the sixth inning heading into Sunday. Salisbury mounted a rally, but the Lions held the Sea Gulls at bay. Salisbury pushed over three runs in the sixth with a home run and RBI single.
Alanna Namit ended the scoring threat. Salisbury had runners on second and third, but Namit forced a fly out to end the inning. The senior pitcher slammed the door in the seventh inning to earn the save, her first of the 2020 campaign.
In game one of the scheduled doubleheader, the Sea Gulls pushed over three runs in the top of the first inning. TCNJ countered with a run in the second by way of an
Annalise Suitovsky RBI double.
The Lions tied the game with a pair of runs in the third inning. Namit drove one in with a sacrifice fly, then
Marissa Devincenzo tied it with a sacrifice fly of her own.
Megan Mayernik's RBI single put TCNJ in front, 4-3, in the fourth inning. Salisbury then took control of the game and scored eight unanswered runs.
Mayernik went 2-4 to lead the offense in game one.
Gillian Roberts took the loss despite a good outing. She threw 3.2 innings and allowed only one earned run while striking out four.
In game two,
Ally Schlee held the Sea Gulls to just two runs while pitching the full six innings. Salisbury scored both of its runs with solo shots. Emily Allen homered in the second inning, and Maddison Leddnum went deep to push the Sea Gulls' lead to 2-0.
TCNJ had a runner in scoring position with one out in the sixth inning, but Lindsey Windsor of Salisbury didn't allow the Lions to score. Namit led off the inning with a base hit, then advanced to second with an
Elyse Nardozza sacrifice bunt. Windsor denied the scoring chance with a pair of fly outs.
The Lions posed another scoring threat in the top of the seventh inning.
Ariana Percivale led off with a base hit. After a line out,
Lindsay Zengel then singled to shortstop. Pinch runner
Jaclyn Carifi was thrown out at third after
Lauren Conroy served one into left field. Windsor retired the final batter with a ground out to seal the win for Salisbury.
TCNJ will return to action in Florida. The Lions' spring trip will begin with a doubleheader against Minnesota-Morris and Marian on March 13.
