EWING, N.J. – The TCNJ softball team made short work of visiting Rutgers-Camden in an NJAC doubleheader on Sunday, pulling away for a pair of run-rule routs. The Lions scored a 9-1 victory in six innings in the opener before an eight-run fourth inning helped secure a 10-0 shutout in five frames in the nightcap.
Kaci Neveling had five hits, four runs scored, and three RBIs in a terrific performance out of the leadoff spot for the Lions (23-6, 11-3), who pulled into a tie with Rowan and Kean for second in the NJAC standings, one game behind first-place Ramapo.
Ally Schlee turned in another dominant effort for her 11
th win of the season before
Julia Roessler twirled a three-hit shutout in Game 2.
Game 1: TCNJ 9, Rutgers-Camden 1 (6)
The Lions put up single runs in the second and third innings to get off to a quick start. Two errors paved the way for an unearned run to open the scoring, and Conroy's two-out RBI single doubled the lead in the third.
TCNJ exploded for four runs in the fourth, when Carifi singled and stole second before scoring on an RBI double by
Julia Kinnally just off the glove of the diving center fielder. Neveling sliced an RBI single down the left-field line to make it 4-0, and Conroy extended the advantage to six by waiting on a slow pitch and bouncing a two-run single back through the box.
Carifi ripped a stand-up triple to right-center with one out in the fifth and scored on another RBI double by Kinnally.
The Scarlet Raptors broke up the shutout with an unearned run in the sixth, but TCNJ came back with two in the bottom half to walk it off. Back-to-back walks to
Camryn Davies and Conroy and a base hit by Mayernik loaded the bases with one out.
Kayla Hillenbrand bounced an RBI single through the left side before Carifi lofted a hit over the drawn-in infield to plate Conroy with the winning run.
Carifi went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs along with two stolen bases, with Neveling posting a 3-for-4 line that featured two runs scored and an RBI. Conroy drove in three runs with her two hits, and Kinnally was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Davies made an exceptional play in the fourth, ranging to her right to back-hand a would-be base hit and throw to first for the final out of the frame.
Schlee allowed six hits with one walk and struck out a career-high seven in moving to 11-0 on the season.
Game 2: TCNJ 10, Rutgers-Camden 0 (5)
TCNJ needed only two scoring innings to pull away for another run-rule rout. It started with a two-run first as Mayernik beat out a squeeze bunt to send Neveling dashing to the plate, and
Kayla Hillenbrand tacked on another with a run-scoring grounder.
With Roessler dealing, the Lions went wild in the fourth, sending 12 batters to the plate and racking up eight runs.
Mckayla Yard and Kinnally drew back-to-back walks to open the frame, and Zengel loaded the bases with a single to center. The Scarlet Raptors allowed a Neveling pop-up to drop in no-man's land for an RBI single.
That's when the wheels fell off for the visitors. Davies was hit by a pitch and Conroy drew a walk, both forcing in a run, before a Mayernik grounder went right through the second baseman's legs for a two-run error. Carifi stretched the margin to 8-0 with a rocket to center before Yard's sacrifice fly and an RBI single by Kinnally capped the outburst.
Roessler worked a 1-2-3 fifth, polishing off her three-hit shutout. She walked one and struck out one in a highly efficient performance.
Neveling was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Conroy drew a pair of walks and scored twice. Mayernik drove in two and scored another, and Zengel finished 2-for-2 with a run.
The Lions take on Rutgers-Newark in Tuesday's home finale, which will serve as Senior Day.
