MONTCLAIR, N.J. – Led by a terrific defense and dominant pitching, the TCNJ softball team took care of business on the road Sunday by completing the conference sweep over Montclair State.

The Lions (18-8, 5-5 NJAC) took game one of the doubleheader, 4-2, off and the arm of sophomore Elizabeth Gosse, who shut down the Red Hawks (12-16, 2-8 NJAC) bats for her fifth win after allowing just one earned run off three hits in a complete game gem.

In game two, freshman Maya Knasiak carried a no hitter bid all the way into the seventh inning to help the blue and gold ultimately secure the 5-0 shutout victory. Knasiak finished her complete game with nine strikeouts on two hits allowed and also drove in a pair of runs at the plate for her sixth career win.

GAME ONE (TCNJ 4, MONTCLAIR STATE 2)

• TCNJ struck first in the top of the first inning on a Julia Kinnally sacrifice bunt that successfully drove in super senior Kaci Neveling from third. Neveling had led off the game reaching on a Red Hawk fielding error, before taking second on a Mckayla Yard bunt and then immediately stealing third.  
• In the top of the second, Neveling drove in the blue and gold's second run of the game on a single up the middle of the infield to drive in freshman Sara Vincent from second.
• Senior Julia Mayernik led off the third inning with a double to left field, before stealing third a couple batters later with two outs. Sophomore Camryn Kitchin immediately drove her in with an RBI single to left field for the third run of the day.
• After an ensuing single from Vincent resulted in Kitchin on third, sophomore Morgan Estelow recorded an RBI single of her own to centerfield to drive in her fellow classmate, and making the lead 4-0.
• The Red Hawks prevented the shut out in the bottom of the fourth on a two-out RBI double to deep rightfield that cut the blue and gold's lead to 4-1.
• Montclair State continued their comeback bid an inning later by scoring a second run off a one-out triple to right field, which brought the TCNJ lead down to just 4-2.
• That would be the closest the home team would get to tying up the match, as Gosse and the Lions closed out the game by recording eight straight outs, including consecutive three-up, three-down innings in the bottom of the sixth and seventh.

GAME TWO (TCNJ 5, MONTCLAIR STATE 0)

• Knasiak began the game with a stellar start in the circle, striking out four batters through the first three innings.
• Showing that she can do both, Knasiak flashed the bat in the top of fourth with a two-RBI single up the middle while the bases were loaded for the first runs of the game. She followed up in the bottom half by striking out two more Red Hawks batters.
• An inning later, the TCNJ bats doubled the lead as Neveling first scored on a passed ball that walked Yard, before a Kinnally sacrifice fly to centerfield drove in Yard to make it 4-0.
• The Lions added on an insurance run in the top of the seventh on a Mayernik double to left field to score Yard, who reached on a one-out double of her own.
• With Knasiak needing just three more outs, Montclair State narrowly escaped the no-hitter by notching their first hit during the first at bat of the bottom of the seventh. Despite that, the freshman would secure the shut out by striking out the final two batters.

STANDOUT LIONS

• Mayernik finished with two doubles and an RBI, as well as scoring twice throughout both games. She also stole a base and caught a baserunner stealing.
• Neveling had two total hits, scored two runs and recorded an RBI. She also stole two bases in the doubleheader.
• Yard hit a pair of doubles and scored twice in the doubleheader.
• Vincent had a two-hit performance in game one.

TCNJ TEAM BREAKDOWN

• Game one: TCNJ recorded eight hits (two for extra bases) and a walk, while also stealing a pair of bases. Additionally, the team had two sacrifice hits and was hit-by-pitch once.
• Game two: The Lions finished with seven hits (three for extra bases) and a walk, while also stealing a base. The team also had five total sacrifice hits/flies.

UP NEXT
The Lions are back home on Tuesday for a pivotal conference clash against No. 13 Rowan. The doubleheader at Dr. June Walker Field is set for a 2:30 PM start time.