EWING, N.J. – Led by another gem by Elizabeth Gosse, the TCNJ Softball team split a pair against Drew in its home opener at Dr. June Walker Field on Tuesday.

After narrowly dropping the first game, the Lions (7-5) took their first home win of the season in shutout fashion to return to their winning ways.

GAME ONE- Drew 2, TCNJ 1
On the mound for the Lions, Ally Schlee pitched the first 5.2 innings of the game and collected five strikeouts in what was a solid start for the senior. She avoided trouble early in the second inning of the game when, with the bases loaded, she forced a Rangers pop up to Julia Kinnally to close out the inning.

Julia Mayernik threw out her third baserunner of the season when she gunned down Drew's Madi Precht at third base in the top of the third, eliminating a potential first run from scoring for the Rangers.

The Lions would follow through by immediately striking first in the bottom of the inning. With two outs and senior Jaclyn Carifi on first, a dropping single in centerfield from sophomore Mckayla Yard was all Carifi needed to round the bases and touch home before the tag was secured.

In the top of the fifth, the Rangers would shift the game their way when a hard hit liner from Molly O'Brien towards Schlee resulted in an infield hit, scoring the tying run while placing another runner on third. On the next at bat, Drew took the lead when the baserunner on third snuck home when O'Brien beat out Mayernik's throwdown attempt to successfully steal second.

TCNJ's final scoring chance came in the bottom of the seventh, when Kinnally led off with a single up the middle before advancing to scoring position at second on a passed ball with one out. However, back-to-back fly outs ended the Lions scoring threat.

For the Lions, Kinnally and Kitchin each finished with two hits apiece. On top of her hit that drove in a run, Yard also had two walks. Senior Kaci Neveling had two walks of her own in the game.

Replacing Shlee with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, sophomore Julia Roessler pitched a terrific 1.1 innings in relief as she gave up no hits.
 
GAME TWO- TCNJ 3, Drew 0
The second game of the doubleheader began in a pitcher's duel just like the first, with TCNJ's Elizabeth Gosse and Drew's Teagan Bradley keeping the game scoreless for the first three-and-a-half innings of the contest.

The Lions would break the tie in the bottom of the fourth, when a sacrifice fly from Julia Mayernik scored Mckayla Yard from third. With one out, Yard had reached base after landing a rocket to left field for a double. She would advance to third after Jaclyn Carifi followed with a sacrifice bunt attempt which actually ended up as an infield single after her speed made Drew's pitcher unable to get a throw off in time.

An inning later with one out, Kaci Neveling would double to right center before advancing to third on a groundout. She would safely jog home after Julia Kinnally doubled a ball of her own to drive in TCNJ's second run of the game. Following a Camryn Kitchin walk, Kinnally would score off a single up the middle from Yard.

On the mound, Gosse would throw the first complete-game shutout of her young career as she only conceded four hits to the Rangers all game. The freshman picked up her fourth win of the season with emphasis in the top of the seventh when she struck out the last two batters of the game for a quick 1-2-3 final inning.

For the Lions, Neveling and Yard each finished the game with two hits. Kitchin reached base twice with a hit and walk. The trio of Neveling, Kinnally and Yard each hit for a double. On the basepaths, Carifi and Mayernik each nabbed a steal. 

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TCNJ will remain home this weekend when the Lions host Manhattanville and SUNY Cortland on Friday and Saturday, respectively.