WAYNE, N.J. – Staying hot at the perfect time, the TCNJ softball team extended their winning streak to six games after sweeping William Paterson to close out regular season play on Saturday afternoon. TCNJ won ten of the final 11 games to enter postseason play.

The Lions (25-9, 12-6 NJAC) won in shutout fashion in game one, 9-0, led by a brilliant one-hitter gem from Elizabeth Gosse in the circle. On offense, the duo of graduate student Kaci Neveling and junior Mckayla Yard combined for eight RBIs on seven total hits to close the door on the Pioneers (5-27, 3-15 NJAC) after just five innings.

In game two, the blue and gold completed the sweep with a 6-3 game two victory over William Paterson. Freshman Maya Knasiak continued her stellar streak of starts with 11 strikeouts in seven complete innings, while allowing just three hits, for her ninth win on the year.

GAME ONE (TCNJ 9, WILLIAM PATERSON 0 – 5 INNINGS)

• The Lions needed just two at bats to take the lead in the top of the first, as Yard promptly drove in Neveling with an RBI single through the left side of the infield. The super senior led off the game with a double down left field.
• An inning later, with the bases loaded, Yard recorded another run-producing hit by clearing the bases with a three-RBI double to put the Lions up 4-0. Fellow junior Rachel Alecci led things off with a single up the middle, which was followed by a one-out Gianna Vazquez single before Neveling loaded the bases on a successful bunt single.
• In the top of the third, Neveling pushed the TCNJ lead up to 7-0 on a two-out bases-clearing triple to right field. Sophomore Camryn Kitchin led off the inning with an infield single at the shortstop before Alecci and fellow sophomore Morgan Estelow loaded the bases by reaching on a fielder's choice and a single to centerfield.
• Yard followed up the triple with an RBI-single through the left side to send Neveling home, and giving TCNJ the 8-0 advantage.
• The Lions tacked on one final run in the top of the fifth on a Vazquez RBI single to right field, scoring Estelow from second. Estelow initially reached on a leadoff walk, before immediately stealing second.

GAME TWO (TCNJ 6, WILLIAM PATERSON 3)

• In the top of the first, Kinnally drove in the first TCNJ run on a sacrifice fly to score Neveling from third. The TCNJ centerfielder led off the game with a walk, before immediately stealing second and then advancing to third on a Yard groundout.
• The Lions added on to their lead in the third on a Yard sacrifice fly to score Vazquez and advanced Neveling to third, which was immediately followed up by a Julia Mayernik bunt single to drive Neveling home and give TCNJ a 3-0 lead.
• Neveling scored her third run of the game when Yard reached on a fielding error by the Pioneer shortstop. The TCNJ third baseman followed up by immediately stealing second, before the advancing to third on a wild pitch. Yard would reach home on a Mayernik sacrifice fly to centerfield, giving the Lions a commanding 5-0 lead.
• In the top of the sixth, freshman Taylor Freudenberg connected on an RBI-single to second base to score sophomore Angelina Marrano from third and put TCNJ up 6-0. Marrano entered the game as a pinch runner for Alecci, who led off the inning with a double, and advanced to third on a groundout from freshman Ryleigh Manning.
• The Pioneers offense finally got on the board in the bottom half, driving in three runs to cut the TCNJ lead down to 6-3.

STANDOUT LIONS

• Neveling hit 6-for-7 with three RBIs and scoring six runs in the doubleheader. She also stole five bases, all coming in game two.
• Yard finished with three hits and seven RBIs on the day, while also stealing two bases.
• Mayernik collected two hits to go along with two RBIs.
• Vazquez had a three-hit day in the doubleheader and stole a base.

TCNJ TEAM BREAKDOWN

• Game one: TCNJ finished with 14 hits (three for extra bases) and a walk as a team, and stole three bases. The blue and gold also had a pair of sacrifice hits.
• Game two: The Lions racked up eight hits (one for extra bases) with two walks, while stealing nine total bases. The team also had three sacrifice flies.

UP NEXT
The Lions will begin postseason play on the road this upcoming Tuesday by taking on Stockton in the First Round of the NJAC Tournament.