EWING, N.J. – The TCNJ softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Drew on Tuesday afternoon at Dr. June Walker Field. After falling 5-0 in game one, the Lions (6-8) bounced back in game two with a 4-2 victory, thanks to a solid performance in the circle by Elizabeth Gosse and some timely hitting.

Game 1: Drew 5, TCNJ 0
Drew struck early, plating a run in the first three innings before adding two more in the fifth to take a commanding lead.

TCNJ's first scoring opportunity came in the bottom of the first when Mckayla Yard led off with a single and advanced to second on a groundout, but the Lions could not bring her home.
 
Camryn Kitchin added a single in the third, but TCNJ struggled to string together hits and advance runners against a strong Drew pitching performance.
 
Maya Knasiak (4-3) took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits over 4.1 innings. She kept the game close through the early innings, working out of a jam in the third with a strikeout and groundout to limit the damage.
 
Julia Roessler provided a spark in relief, tossing 2.2 innings of scoreless softball to give the Lions a chance to claw back.

Game 2: TCNJ 4, Drew 2
The Lions bounced back in game two with a gritty performance, capitalizing on Drew's defensive miscues and riding a complete-game gem from Gosse to earn the split.

TCNJ did all of its damage in the bottom of the second inning, plating four unearned runs. Yard reached on an error and later scored on another defensive miscue. Kaci Neveling came through with an RBI single to extend the lead before Olivia Santos followed with an RBI hit of her own to make it 4-0. Grace Brouillard also played a key role in the inning, putting the ball in play and forcing Drew's defense into mistakes that allowed TCNJ to capitalize.

Drew cut the deficit to 4-2 in the fourth, but Gosse (2-5) was dominant in the circle, limiting any further damage. She retired the side in order in both the fifth and seventh innings and stranded a runner at third in the sixth to protect the lead.

Despite recording just one hit in the game, the Lions were opportunistic and took advantage of Drew's four errors to secure the win.

STANDOUT LIONS

• Gosse (Game 2): 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 4 K, 2 BB
• Yard: 1-for-3, 1 R in Game 1, and scored the first run in Game 2
• Santos: 1-for-3, RBI in Game 2
• Neveling: Reached base and drove in a run in Game 2
• Roessler: 2.2 IP, 0 R, 2 H in relief in Game 1

UP NEXT
The Lions return home on Saturday, March 22, for a non-conference doubleheader against Manhattanville, with game one set to begin at 1 PM.