MONTCLAIR, N.J. – Julia Mayernik and
Victoria Aspiazu each homered and
Ally Schlee continued her unbeaten season to lead the TCNJ softball team to a 6-2 Game 1 victory over Montclair State in an NJAC doubleheader split on Saturday. The Red Hawks edged out a 3-2 win in Game 2.
Mayernik was one of three Lions to record multiple hits in both ends of the twin bill, joining
Kaci Neveling and
Jaclyn Carifi.
Game 1: TCNJ 6, Montclair State 2
The Lions put up a crooked number with two outs in the third, breaking the scoreless stalemate on
Lauren Conroy's RBI single through the right side to score Neveling, who had doubled with one out. Up stepped Mayernik, who launched a two-run homer to left to extend TCNJ's lead to 3-0.
Schlee, meanwhile, had a perfect game going into the fourth inning. She retired the first 11 hitters she faced before surrendering back-to-back singles with two outs, but got out of trouble with a fly ball to Neveling in left.
The Red Hawks made things interesting with two runs in the fifth, closing within 3-2 on a two-out, two-run single to break up Schlee's shutout bid.
TCNJ came right back with another three-run rally with two outs in the sixth. This time, Carifi singled up the middle and went to second on a passed ball before
Julia Kinnally drove her home with a base hit to left. Up stepped Aspiazu, who made it 6-2 with a pinch-hit two-run blast to left.
Schlee set down the last seven Red Hawks she faced, running her record to 10-0 on the year. She allowed two runs on six hits and matched a season high with five strikeouts.
Neveling finished a homer short of the cycle, going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Mayernik was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run, and Carifi also had two hits and a run.
Game 2: Montclair State 3, TCNJ 2
Montclair State drew first blood in the nightcap on a solo homer by Danielle Sibilio in the bottom of the first.
TCNJ got the run back on Mayernik's RBI double in the third, but the Red Hawks responded with a single run of their own in the fourth.
The Lions pulled even in the sixth, when
Lindsay Zengel's two-out hit kept the inning alive for
Kaci Neveling, who delivered the tying RBI single through the right side to score Carifi.
It didn't take long for Montclair State to get back atop the see-saw, however, with Amber Reed's leadoff homer in the sixth putting the home side on top for good.
Kayla Hillenbrand gave the Lions one last chance with a two-out single in the seventh, but the Red Hawks secured the split when Carifi grounded back to the pitcher.
Carifi, Neveling, and Mayernik all made it back-to-back multi-hit games, each posting a pair of hits.
Marina Costello absorbed the loss but was solid in relief, allowing one run on three hits over 2.1 frames.
The Lions are home on Sunday to take on Rutgers-Camden in an NJAC doubleheader.
