SALISBURY, MD. – A big offensive display from Camryn Kitchin wasn't enough as the TCNJ Softball team lost a pair of hard-fought games against Lynchburg and top-ranked Salisbury on Friday.

The Lions (6-4) were led by freshman phenom Camryn Kitchin, who ended the day with four combined hits and driving in all three TCNJ runs. Despite trailing for the larger parts of both games, the blue and gold found ways to stay in the game and keep things competitive until the final out against both teams.

Lynchburg 4, TCNJ 1
Lynchburg struck first with a leadoff home run to left field to begin the game. Three batters later, with one out and a runner on first, the Hornets would follow with another deep shot to left to put TCNJ in a three-run hole.

The Lions scored their first run of the day after consecutive doubles to lead off the bottom of the fourth. Julia Kinnally led off with a hard hit ball to left center before Kitchin drove the ball past the hot corner and down the left field line for a standing double to score the junior from second.

The run snapped Lynchburg pitcher Kailey Dorcsis's shutout streak to begin her season, as Dorcsis had not conceded a run in the 23.1 Innings pitched entering the game, and 26.1 total innings up to that point of the game.

In the fifth, the Hornets pushed their lead back up to three runs a Olivia Herman single scored Sarah Watts, who reached after a one-out triple.

The bottom of the sixth saw TCNJ's last chance to score with runners on base. With two outs, Kitchin and senior Jaclyn Carifi hit for consecutive singles to put two on and the tying run at the plate. However, a Mckayla Yard flyout to right field ended the threat for TCNJ.

For the Lions, Kitchin led the way hitting two-of-three and the lone RBI. Neveling finished with a hit and a walk. Reina Jeronimo, Jaclyn Carifi and Kinnally each recorded a hit of their own.

On the mound, Julia Roessler struck out six Hornets batters while pitching all seven innings.

Salisbury 5, TCNJ 2
In a game that began as a pitcher's duel between senior Ally Schlee and Salisbury's Nicole Ortega, the Sea Gulls managed to finally break through in bottom of third to score the game's first runs. With two outs and a runner on second, Salisbury would hit for back-to-back singles to score two runs.

The top of the fourth saw Kitchin slash the Sea Gulls lead in half with an RBI single up the middle that evaded the gloves of both Salisbury middle infielders, driving in Neveling from second.

Salisbury would score two more in the bottom of the fifth. The first run came off a double to left center with one out.  Following the hit, Schlee officially exited the game, having collected two strikeouts and holding the top ranked Sea Gulls within striking distance for the Lions offense.

Coming in relief, freshman Elizabeth Gosse would collect the second out of the inning by forcing a fly ball to centerfield. However, a single from the following Salisbury batter scored the second run of the inning for the Sea Gulls. Gosse would collect the final out on a pop up to third base.

Salisbury would tack on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth with a leadoff solo shot that extended their lead to four scores.

TCNJ would put up a hard fought last effort in the top of the seventh. Leading off, Kinnally would advance safely to second before Kitchin drove in the Lions' second run of the game and her third total on the day on a hard-hit ball that shot past third base.

Subbing in as the pinch runner, Julia Guerriero would advance to second base when Carifi grounded out to the short stop. Mckayla Yard would follow up by putting runners at the corners with a single down the right side. With her hit, the Lions drove off Salisbury's Ortega, and forcing ace Lindsey Windsor to enter the mound from right field to take on junior Julia Mayernik, who stepped up to the plate representing the potential tying run.

However, Windsor would immediately end the match by forcing a game clinching double play. 

For the Lions, Neveling finished the game hitting two-for-two and drawing a walk.

UP NEXT
Following the weeklong road trip down in Myrtle Beach and Salisbury, the Lions will next play in Dr. June Walker Field for the home opener against Drew next Tuesday. The doubleheader is set to begin at 2:30 pm.