MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. –  A day after inclement weather delayed their season opener, the TCNJ Softball team showed out in dominant fashion for a sweep of two games at the NMB Sport Complex on Saturday.

The Lions (2-0) combined for 23 total hits (nine of which went for extra bases) on offense to score 15 combined runs. On the mound, the pitching trio of Ally Schlee, Elizabeth Gosse, and Julia Roessler totaled 10 strikeouts in 12 combined innings.
 
TCNJ 7, METHODIST 2
TCNJ's first run of the season was driven in by Julia Kinnally, who doubled to right field to score super senior Camryn Davies. The graduate student put herself in scoring position after drawing a ball and quickly stealing second (her first of four total on the day).

The Lions tacked on a second run in the third inning when a Kinnally single up the middle scored Julia Mayernik, who reached base after smashing a two-out double to the left side.

On the mound, senior Ally Schlee cruised through the first 4.2 innings of the game that saw her maintain a no hitter with three strikeouts. However, her terrific start was abruptly cut short when a walk and two consecutive hits with two outs from Methodist tied the game at two apiece. Schlee was replaced by freshman Elizabeth Gosse, who got the last out after recording a groundout to end the inning.

The Lions immediately responded in the top of the sixth when the offense erupted for four runs to pull away from the Monarchs. Senior Jaclyn Carifi scored the first run of the inning after Mckayla Yard reached second base on a fielding error from Methodist's right fielder. Freshman Camryn Kitchin recorded her first career home run, driving in Yard. Kaci Neveling drove in the last run of the game for the Lions with a double up the middle to score Ashley O'Hagan.

In her collegiate debut, Gosse pitched a stellar 2.1 innings in relief that included two strikeouts. The freshman was ultimately credited with the win.
 
TCNJ 8, FITCHBURG STATE 0 (5 INNINGS)
In the second game, the Lions once again struck early with a first inning score. With one out, Davies got on base after a hit-by-pitch and immediately stealing second, before Mayernik drop the graduate student in with an RBI single up the middle.

Davies doubled the Lions' lead in the bottom of the third when she scored from third off a sacrifice fly from Mayernik. The super senior reached base with a leadoff single, before stealing second and advancing to third on the throw.

TCNJ pulled away in the fourth after scoring three rules to lead by five runs. With one out, the Lions hit consecutive doubles from O'Hagan and Rizzo, which was immediately followed up by a Neverling triple to make the game 4-0. A two-out single from Mayernik scored Neveling.
 
The freshmen closed out the game in the bottom of the fifth with three runs. Leading off as a pinch hitter, Julia Guerriero collected her first career hit with a single up the middle. Gianna Vazquez followed up with her hit as she reached on a single of her own, sending Guerriero to third before she advanced to second on the throw. Morgan Estelow scored Guerriero after collecting a bunt single. With two outs, Reina Jeronimo ended the game with a two-RBI double down the left side of the outfield to score Estelow and Vazquez, driving the Lions' lead up to the necessary eight runs.

Sophomore Julia Roessler pitched a shutout five innings in her season debut to receive the win. She struck out five batters, including striking out the side in the top of the fifth inning.

Barring impending rain, the Lions will return to action tomorrow morning at 9 am for the first of another two games against Ithaca and Scranton.