NEWARK, N.J. – The TCNJ Softball team completed their fourth-consecutive conference sweep after dominating Rutgers-Newark on the road Tuesday afternoon.

The Lions (23-9, 13-3 NJAC) offense combined for 25 hits to score a staggering 22 total runs between the two games. Game one was sealed almost as quickly as it began, with the offense scoring eight of its runs in the 9-1 victory during the top of the first. Game two began with TCNJ surprisingly trailing early, before completely pulling away in the later part of the match off an offensive barrage to win 13-4.

GAME ONE (TCNJ 9, Rutgers-Newark 1 – 5 INNINGS)
The Lions erupted in the first inning of the game, dropping eight immediate runs on the Scarlet Raiders in an eventful top half that saw six hits, a walk, a hit-by-pitch alongside two Rutgers-Newark errors.

After consecutive errors allowed seniors Kaci Neveling and Jaclyn Carifi to be put at first and third, the Lions would score the first run on a successful stolen base attempt by Carifi when Neveling reached home on the throwdown attempt.

Immediately after, Julia Kinnally launched a triple to right field to drive in Carifi for the second run. Following a Mckayla Yard walk, Julia Mayernik would reach on a successful bunt single to score Kinnally and put Yard on third. After a Camryn Kitchin infield single placed two on once again, Rachel Alecci cleared the bases with a single through the left side of the infield. The Lions led 5-0 without recording even one out.

Couple batters later, now with two outs, Carifi doubled through the left side to score two more runs. Kinnally completed the massive eight run inning with a single to leftfield to score Camryn Davies from third.

Neveling would tack on another Lions score in the third after an RBI single to right field drove in Rizzo from third. The senior left fielder had led off the inning with a single, before advancing to second on a Camryn Davies sacrifice bunt and then successfully stealing third base. The Lions led 9-0.

Rutgers-Newark managed to escape the shutout in the bottom of the fifth by scoring one run. The Scarlet Raiders would've needed a second run to prolong the game, and nearly got it when the final batter hit a double to left field to potentially drive in another run. However an excellent throw from Rizzo at left field cut down the Newark baserunner at the plate.

On the mound, newly crowned NJAC Pitcher of the Week Elizabeth Gosse pitched another stellar start to pick up her 11th win of the season. The freshman struck out three batters while conceding just the lone run in five innings.

Rizzo and Kinnally finished with a game-high two hits apiece, while Carifi and Alecci both drove in two runs (alongside Kinnally).

GAME TWO (TCNJ 13, Rutgers-Newark 4)
The Scarlett Raiders struck first on a three-run homer past left centerfield to put the Lions in an early hole after the first inning.

TCNJ punched back in the top of second with two runs of their own. After two singles by Mayernik and Kitchin, the Lions catcher would reach home on a groundout by Rizzo to score their first run. Freshman Gianna Vazquez followed up with an RBI single to center field to score her fellow freshman from second. TCNJ entered the bottom of the second trailing by just one run, 3-2.

Rutgers-Camden extended their lead in the bottom of the third off an RBI single to put the Lions down 4-2.

TCNJ responded by tying the game in the top of the fourth on a two-RBI Camryn Davies single to left field, which drove in both Rizzo and Kitchin. An inning later, the Lions completed the comeback on a Kinnally single to right field to score Carifi.

A three run top of the sixth built upon the blue and gold's lead. Davies drove in the first run on a fielder's choice to score Rizzo, before scoring herself moments later on a wild pitch. The final run of the inning would be scored by Neveling, who made it to home plate on a Carifi sacrifice fly to leftfield. The Lions led 8-4, successfully turning the game around.

Senior pitcher Ally Schlee made her return with two outs in the bottom of the six inning, and promptly forced a flyout to right field to close out the inning.  

Despite a substantial lead, the Lions offense refused to take their foot off the gas pedal by dropping five final runs in the top of the seventh. The first two runners reached home on a Davies double to left field. With Reina Jeromina pinch running for the super senior, she was promptly driven in off a Carifi RBI single up the middle. Neveling scored next on a throwdown attempt when Carifi successfully stole second.

The final run of the doubleheader came off the bat of Kinnally, who singled through the right side to allow Carifi to jog home and make the score 13-4.

UP NEXT
The Lions will wrap up the 2023 regular season with a Senior Day matchup against Ramapo on Saturday. The official Senior Day celebrations will take place after the doubleheader's conclusion.