EWING, N.J. – The TCNJ softball team needed a clutch go-ahead RBI single from graduate student
Kaci Neveling to ultimately split Saturday's NJAC home opener against Kean at Dr. June Walker Field. In between the pair of matches, head coach
Sally Miller and the team also honored the program's 1992 and 1994 National Championship teams.
The Lions (14-6, 1-3 NJAC) won game one, 3-1, off Neveling's big hit in the fifth inning alongside an impressive three strikeout complete-game performance in the circle from sophomore
Elizabeth Gosse, who was rewarded with her fourth win on the year.
Game two saw the blue and gold put up a furious four-run rally after the Cougars (13-10, 1-3 NJAC) jumped out to a hot 5-0 start in the early innings. However, a late inning three-run Kean homer proved too much to overcome as TCNJ ultimately fell 8-4.
GAME ONE (TCNJ 3, KEAN 1)
- The Cougars struck first in the top of the first on a two-out RBI single to right field that scored a baserunner from second.
- In the bottom half, the Lions tied things up at one run apiece on a Julia Kinnally RBI double down centerfield to score Neveling from second. Neveling had recorded a four-pitch leadoff walk before stealing second.
- In the top of the fourth with one out, Kean threatened with two runners in scoring position after successfully converting on a double steal attempt. Staying poised, Gosse managed to immediately force a pair groundouts to get out of the jam unharmed.
- TCNJ went on to take the lead in the bottom half of the fifth, scoring two important runs on a clutch Neveling RBI single up the middle of the infield. Freshman Maya Knasiak and sophomore Camryn Kitchin were the two base runners in scoring position.
- In the top of the seventh, Kean put tying runs on base after consecutive leadoff singles. But it was all the road team could manage, as Kinnally made the game saving lineout double play to second base to erase the scoring threat and ultimately deciding the game.
GAME TWO (KEAN 8, TCNJ 4)
- Kean's bats started the game off red hot, driving in five unanswered runs in the first two innings to seemingly pull away from the Lions early.
- The blue and gold battled back in the bottom of the second with two runs of their own after putting runners at the corners. Sophomore Gianna Vazquez drove in the first run on a single to right field, scoring Knasiak from third. Immediately after her, freshman Ryleigh Manning reached on a bunt after an error was committed by Kean's first baseman, which was enough to score Kitchin.
- An inning later, the Lions continued to slice into their deficit on a Kinnally RBI single up the middle to score Neveling from third.
- In the bottom of the fifth, Kinnally drove in yet another run to continue the rally, this time earning an RBI on a sacrifice fly to right field that scored junior Mckayla Yard from third. TCNJ had clawed all the way back to being down only 5-4.
- The Cougars deflated TCNJ's furious comeback in the top of the sixth on a backbreaking three-run home run with two outs to put the Lions back in a four run deficit that they ultimately could not come back from.
STANDOUT LIONS
- Kinnally hit 4-for-6 with three RBIs and a double in the two games
- In game two, Vazquez recorded her second career three-hit game after going a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI.
TCNJ TEAM BREAKDOWN
- Game one: TCNJ collected six hits and one walk, while stealing a pair of bases.
- Game two: The Lions racked up seven hits with a walk, and stole one base.
UP NEXT
The Lions are back in action tomorrow by heading on the road to Stockton for a doubleheader starting at 1 PM. The matchup between the two teams had originally been scheduled for April 2, before initially being rescheduled to 4/5 due to inclement weather.
