EWING, N.J. – Led by a complete team performance, the TCNJ Softball team dominated William Paterson for the fourth sweep of the season on Sunday.

The Lions (17-9, 7-3 NJAC) outscored the Pioneers (18-7-1, 3-6-1 NJAC) 13-1 between the two games while the duo of freshman Elizabeth Gosse and Julia Roessler combined to just concede five total hits in terrific starts. The TCNJ offense was highlighted by a pair of home runs from the junior duo of Julia Kinnally and Julia Mayernik.

GAME ONE (TCNJ 4, William Paterson 0)
With two outs in the bottom of the first, Kinnally launched her fourth home run of the season as she sent a ball past left centerfield for a solo score.

Leading off an inning later, freshman Ashley O'Hagan managed to reach third after an initial single to right field was assisted by a fielding error from the outfielder. She was immediately driven in by Rachel Alecci, who hit a sacrifice fly to left field to make it 2-0 TCNJ.

The Lions tacked on two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth off mistakes from the Pioneers. With Kinnally on second following a leadoff single and a stolen base, Mckayla Yard would single to the William Paterson shortstop, who would make a throwing error that sailed over the first base. This error would allow Kinnally to reach home. However, a second throwing error would occur on the play, this one by the first baseman, which would allow Yard to reach third.

On the next at bat, Yard would capitalize on a Pioneers wild pitch to touch home safely.

On the mound, Gosse pitched her fourth career shutout to secure the eighth win of her career. Giving up just two singles to the Pioneers, the freshman ace did not allow the visitors to reach scoring position even once the entire game.

The trio of Kinnally, Yard and O'Hagan each finished with two hit games. Julia Mayernik and Camryn Davies added on a single each.

GAME TWO (TCNJ 9, William Paterson 1 – 5 Innings)
Kaci Neveling led the second game off with a single down the left field line in the bottom of the first. She would score a batter later, on Jaclyn Carifi's at bat, off a throwing error by the shortstop that also placed Carifi on third. Kinnally would quickly make it 2-0 Lions on a RBI groundout to score Carifi.

In the top of the second, William Paterson would cut the Lions lead in half after two hits and a TCNJ throwing error drove a run home.

Catcher Julia Mayernik would immediately get the run back in the bottom half by launching her second home run on the season to left centerfield.

An inning later, another TCNJ run would score off an RBI single from Kinnally to drive in Carifi from second. The Lions centerfield had reached on a one-out single before stealing second.
TCNJ abruptly ended the match in the bottom of the fifth by scoring the five necessary runs needed to end the game early due to the NCAA mercy rule. Kaci Neveling led things off with a triple to right centerfield before being immediately driven in on a sacrifice fly from Jaclyn Carifi to left field.

Kinnally would follow up with a double to right field, before Yard walked to put two on. After a Pioneers pitching change, freshman Camryn Kitchin would load the bases with a single that dropped in left field. The second run of the inning would score after O'Hagan walked in Kinnally from third.

On the next and ultimately final at bat, TCNJ would score three runs after a bunt single from Rachel Alecci was followed by two throwing errors by the Pioneers catcher and first baseman.

In one of her best starts on the season, Roessler gave up just three hits to the Pioneers while striking out three batters. Her fifth win of the season also came without her conceding an earned run.

Neveling, Kinnally and Kitchin each finished the game with two hits apiece. Carifi collected a hit and scored two runs. O'Hagan reached twice with a hit and a walk.

UP NEXT
The Lions will travel out to Camden this upcoming Tuesday for a pair against the Raptors of Rutgers-Camden.