EWING, N.J. – The No. 18 TCNJ softball team finished its regular season strong with a sweep over William Paterson on Saturday. The Lions took game one by a final score of 3-1, then won game two by a final score of 8-0 in five innings.

TCNJ completed its regular season with a 17-3 record including 16-2 in NJAC action. The Lions also went an undefeated 10-0 at home.

After the games, the Lions held Senior Day to honor the Class of 2021. The Lions' senior class has been a part of 85 wins over the last four years including an NJAC Championship in 2019.

Game One
The Pioneers struck first with a run in the first inning, however starting TCNJ pitcher Eliza Sweet did not let William Paterson score again. Sweet threw a complete game and struck out seven batters while walking only one. She improved to 6-2 on the season with the victory.

The Lions countered with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Julia Mayernik was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. After she advanced to second on a groundout, Julia Kinnally advanced her to third with a base knock. An RBI groundout from Kaitlin Kocinski scored Mayernik and tied the game.

Elyse Nardozza delivered an RBI single that scored Kinnally. Nardozza then stole second, and came around to score on an infield single from Kaci Neveling. The second basemen for William Paterson dove and stopped the ball, but Nardozza motored around third to beat the throw home and make it a 3-1 Lion lead.

After a walk to start the top of the third, Sweet retired 15 Pioneers in a row to lead TCNJ to the game one victory. Neveling picked up a pair of hits to lead TCNJ's offense, which tallied seven on the game.

Game Two
The Lions gained control of game two right away with four runs in the first inning. With the bases loaded, Lauren Conroy ripped a double to left field that pushed over a pair. The next batter was Mayernik, who delivered a sacrifice fly to make it a 3-0 lead. Two batters later, Alanna Namit extended the advantage to 4-0 with an RBI single.

Namit found a groove as the Lions' game two starting pitcher. She tossed a complete game shutout and allowed only one hit, which was a single in the first inning. Namit struck out five to improve to 7-1 on the season.

TCNJ doubled its lead with four more runs in the fourth inning. Katie Winchock cleared the loaded bases with a three-run double. Conroy drove in Winchock with an RBI sacrifice fly a few batters later. Namit continued her dominance in the fifth inning to secure the run-rule win for the Lions.

Neveling and Winchock each went 2-3 and scored two runs in the second game.

The Lions will host the NJAC Quarterfinals on May 7. Check on njacsports.com and tcnjathletics.com for tournament information in the coming days.