GALLOWAY, N.J. – Making a statement on the road, the fifth-seeded TCNJ softball team secured a shutout victory over fourth-seeded Stockton, 4-0, in round one of the 2024 NJAC Tournament on Tuesday afternoon.

The Lions (26-9) not only showed why they enter the tournament as the reigning conference champions, but also extended their winning streak to a season-high seven games in the process. The offense struck first early, before tacking on key insurance runs late to support a stellar combined shutout effort in the circle from sophomore Elizabeth Gosse and freshman Maya Knasiak.

Making the start, Gosse struck out three batters in the first five innings while allowing just three Osprey (23-16) hits for her tenth win on the season. Coming in relief to start the sixth, Knasiak picked up her second career save after a spotless final two innings that saw her strike out one batter.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• TCNJ needed just two at bats to get on the board in the top of the first after junior Mckayla Yard drove in graduate student Kaci Neveling with an RBI infield hit at the shortstop. Neveling led off the game with a single up the middle, before immediately stealing second and subsequently advancing to third on an error by Stockton's shortstop.
• In the top of the third, the Lions drove home a second run on a Julia Mayernik RBI-double to left centerfield to score Neveling, who reached on a one-out single to centerfield.
• Freshman Sara Vincent drove in an insurance run in the top of the sixth on an RBI single to centerfield that scored Estelow, who reached on a two-out single up to middle before stealing second. The score gave TCNJ a 3-0 lead heading into the final frame.
• The top of the seventh saw the blue and gold tack on their fourth and final run after Neveling reached home on a fielding error by the Ospreys shortstop after Yard put the ball into play.

STANDOUT LIONS

• Neveling finished 2-for-3 at the plate, while also scoring three times and stealing a pair of bases
• Mayernik had a two-hit day to go along with her RBI

TCNJ TEAM BREAKDOWN

• The Lions totaled nine hits (one double) with a walk as a team, while stealing three total bases. The team also had a pair of sacrifice hits.

UP NEXT
The Lions advance onto the second round of the NJAC Tournament this Saturday for a showdown against top-seeded Rowan on the road at Glassboro. The game is set for a 3:30 PM start time.