EWING, N.J. – The TCNJ Softball team utilized an unstoppable offense that slugged their way to a home doubleheader sweep against NJCU on Friday afternoon.
The Lions (15-7, 5-1 NJAC) offense combined for 23 hits and six walks to score 22 total runs in the doubleheader, giving TCNJ back-to-back mercy rule victories. On the mound, the duo of
Elizabeth Gosse and
Julia Roessler totaled eight strikeouts in 10 combined innings pitched and giving up just a lone run.
TCNJ batters recorded a staggering 13 extra base hits against NJCU (9-11, 1-4 NJAC), including four home runs in game one that saw senior
Jaclyn Carifi and freshman
Reina Jeronimo each record their first career homer. Additionally, junior
Julia Kinnally saw all five of her hits end up as doubles on the day.
GAME ONE (TCNJ 12, NJCU 0 – 5 Innings)
TCNJ shut the door early in game one, dropping seven runs in the bottom of the second that saw three of the six Lions hits come as home runs.
Freshman
Camryn Kitchin led off the Lions onslaught with a first pitch no-doubter that sailed right past center field. With one out,
Rachel Alecci singled up the middle and
Camryn Davies made it two on the basepath with a walk to bring up the top of the order.
Senior
Kaci Neveling immediately capitalized with a roping single to right centerfield that drove in both her teammates, before advancing to third on NJCU's throwdown attempt at home plate. Carifi followed up with her first career home run that traveled past left centerfield to clear the bases. Kinnally kept the Lions lineup rolling with a double to right field before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Sophomore
Mckayla Yard drove her in with a no-doubt bomb of her own that landed past left centerfield.
An inning later, the Lions increased their lead to nine runs after a Carifi triple to left field first scored
Reina Jeronimo from second and then a Kinnally double to score the star senior.
Jeronimo would add to the scoring in the bottom of the fourth by sending a ball out of Dr. June Walker Field to score herself and fellow freshman
Gianna Vazquez on second. Davies followed up with a hit-by-pitch, and advanced to second on a Neveling single. Carifi ultimately drove in the super senior after hitting a hard hit single to the shortstop.
On the mound,
Elizabeth Gosse picked up her seventh career victory following another shutout performance in which she struck out five batters and conceding just three hits.
Neveling finished game one with two hits, two RBIs and scoring a run herself. Carifi fell a double shy of the cycle after a dominant three hit and four RBI game. Yard and Kitchin each collected two hits.
GAME TWO (TCNJ 10, NJCU 1 – 5 Innings)
Looking to change the tone quickly in the second game, the Gothic Knights struck the first blow in the top of the first after a two-out double drove in a baserunner from first base.
However, the Lions responded in the bottom half with a six-run offensive display to put the game out of reach early. With one out, Carifi reached with a single through the left side before stealing second and taking third on a wild pitch. Kinnally drove her in with a double to right centerfield to tie the game. She quickly advanced to third on a passed ball, before
Mckayla Yard made it runners at the corners after getting hit by a pitch. Kitchin drove both baserunners in with a double to centerfield. Following a walk by
Rachel Alecci, Davies would make it 5-0 Lions on a double of her own. Neveling drove in the sixth run on another Lions double, this time cutting through the left side of the infield.
An inning later, Yard increased TCNJ's lead to 7-1 after singling to right centerfield to score Kinnally, who had led off the inning with a hard hit double.
In the bottom of the third, Lions would score their eighth run of the game on a wild pitch that allowed freshman
Julia Guerriero to reach home from third and sending Davies to third.
Ashley O'Hagan followed up with a sacrifice fly hit to deep left field to score Davies. The final run of the game was driven in by Carifi, who allowed Neveling to score from third after an original single was aided by an error from the NJCU centerfielder.
On the mound,
Julia Roessler earned her fourth win of the season after striking out three batters in five innings pitched.
Neveling finished game two with another two-hit performance. Davies recorded two RBIs and scored twice herself. Alecci reached base twice with two walks.
UP NEXT
The Lions head back on the road this upcoming Tuesday for a pivotal doubleheader against Nationally-ranked conference rival Rowan. The first pitch against the Profs is scheduled at 2:30 p.m.
