GLENSIDE, PA. – With the offense coming alive, the TCNJ softball team closed out non-conference play with an emphatic road sweep over Arcadia on Tuesday afternoon.

The Lions (13-3) dominated to a 9-4 victory in game one, in which Maya Knasiak recorded her third career win after striking out six batters in 6.2 innings of work in the circle. At the plate, the duo of Kaci Neveling and Julia Mayernik combined for six hits and five RBIs to lead the TCNJ offense.

In game two, the blue and gold won the match 11-0 over Arcadia (7-13) in just five innings after scoring eight runs in the top of the fifth to force the mercy rule into play. Four Lions recorded multi-hit performances, while three had multi-RBIs. Picking up her second straight win, Elizabeth Gosse had her best start in the circle with a six strikeout performance.

GAME ONE (TCNJ 9, ARCADIA 4)

• TCNJ struck first immediately in the top of first, going up by three runs in the blink of an eye. After Neveling led off the game by reaching on an Arcadia fielding error, Morgan Estelow drove her in on a double down left centerfield. Couple batters later, Mayernik recorded a bunt single to third base to score Estelow from third. Knasiak would follow through by driving in the third run in a two-out situation, doubling to left field to score Mayernik.
• With the bases loaded with one out, the Lions added on two more runs in the second inning, firstly off an RBI single to right centerfield from Kinnally to drive in Taylor Freudenberg and keep the lineup moving. The second run came on a sacrifice fly to left field to allow Neveling to reach base.
• The sixth TCNJ run was scored in the top of the sixth inning on a Neveling RBI single to left field, scoring Freudenberg from third base. The freshman had initially reached on a one-out double.
• The Lions piled it on in the top of the seventh, driving in three more runs to go up 9-0. Following a leadoff walk from Kinnally, Mayernik launched her second home run on the season to deep left field. After an ensuing double to centerfield from Camryn Kitchin, she was pinch ran for by Angelina Marrano, who was immediately driven in by Rachel Alecci on an RBI single for the ninth run.  
• With the game already well out of reach, Arcadia scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh, all with two outs.

GAME TWO (TCNJ 11, ARCADIA 0 – 5 INNINGS)

• The Lions struck first once again, this time in the top of the third, on consecutive two-out RBI doubles from Kinnally and Mayernik to put the road team up 2-0. Gianna Vazquez initially led off the inning by reaching base on a throwing error from Arcadia's shortstop.
• An inning later, Knasiak showed off her elite two-way ability by slamming her first career home run to deep centerfield as the leadoff.
• TCNJ would force the mercy rule into play in the top of the fifth, scoring a staggering eight runs off eight hits, with four stolen bases, to slam the door on Arcadia once again. Notably, with one out and two on base, the Lions lineup kept things moving by scoring five runs before the second out could be recorded by the home team.

STANDOUT LIONS

• Neveling hit 5-for-9 with two RBIs, three steals and four runs scored.
• Kinnally combined for a four-hit day that included two doubles and a pir of RBIs.
• Mayernik hit 4-for-6 with six RBIs, a double and her home run. The catcher also scored three times herself.  
• Alongside her win, Knasiak had three hits and three RBIs on the day.
• Freudenberg had a breakout day, hitting 4-for-7 with a pair of doubles and scoring three runs.
• Estelow finished with three hits and three RBIs on the day

TCNJ TEAM BREAKDOWN

• Game one: TCNJ racked up 15 total hits, six of which went for extra bases. The team also recorded one walk and stolen base apiece.
• Game two: The Lions combined for 13 hits, four of which went for extra bases. The blue and gold also stole four bases.

UP NEXT
The Lions begin NJAC play this Saturday by visiting Ramapo for an early-afternoon road doubleheader. The first pitch is currently set for 1 PM.