EWING, N.J. – In the NJAC Quarterfinals, the No. 16 TCNJ softball team swept Rutgers-Camden. The Lions dominated game one to earn a 10-0, five-inning victory, then prevailed in a tight 2-0 ballgame in game two.
With the quarterfinal win, the Lions advance to face Stockton in the NJAC Semifinals. The semis will take place at Dr. June Walker Field on May 11, with game three, if necessary, to be played on May 12. TCNJ also extended its winning streak to eight games with today's pair of wins. The second-seeded Lions are now 19-3 this season.
Game One:
The Lions combined a complete-game shutout performance from
Eliza Sweet with an effective offensive attack. Sweet allowed only two hits, both singles, and only one walk all game.
TCNJ jumped out to a 2-0 lead right away in the bottom of the first inning.
Julia Mayernik drove the first run of the day in with an RBI single, then
Jaclyn Carifi made it a two-run lead with an RBI groundout.
The Lions scored in every inning with two runs in the first, three in the second, one in the third, and four in the fourth. In the second inning, TCNJ pushed over all three runs after there were two outs.
Allie Immerso knocked an RBI single up the middle, then
Lauren Conroy drove a two-RBI double to left center field to extend the lead to 5-0.
Julia Kinnally blasted a solo home run to left field in the third inning to continue the offensive attack and put the Lions' up by six. The round-tripper was Kinnally's third of the campaign.
The four-run fourth inning was highlighted by RBIs from
Julia Vardiman,
Elyse Nardozza, and Kinnally. Vardiman worked a very tough at bat, as she won a 14-pitch battle to drive an RBI-sacrifice fly to center field.
The Lions picked up 14 hits in game one, led by 3-3 efforts from both Immerso and Kinnally. Sweet improved her record to 7-2 on the season with today's victory.
Game Two:
Game two was scoreless until the Lions finally broke through with some small ball in the fifth inning.
Victoria Aspiazu led off the inning with a single, then Nardozza legged out an infield single. After a bunt from
Kaci Neveling moved pinch runner
Lindsay Zengel over,
Katie Winchock drove Zengel in with an RBI sacrifice fly.
One swing off the bat of Conroy doubled the Lions' lead in the sixth inning. Conroy ripped a solo shot to right center, her fourth of the season, which leads the team.
Alanna Namit was exceptional in the circle for TCNJ, tossing a complete-game shutout. It marks her eighth complete game and fifth shutout of the season for the senior right-hander. Namit limited Rutgers-Camden to just three singles while striking out nine batters and only walking one. Her record now stands at 8-1 on the season. The Scarlet Raptors didn't advance a runner past first base at all in the second game.
Nardozza went 3-3 at the plate to lead the offensive attack, while TCNJ tallied seven hits as a team.
The NJAC Semifinals between TCNJ and Stockton will begin with two games on May 11 at Dr. June Walker Field. First pitch for game one is slated for 2:00 p.m.
