EWING, N.J. - The TCNJ softball team hosted Arcadia for a doubleheader in its non-conference finale Tuesday afternoon, dropping a tightly-contested Game 1, 2-1 before cruising to a 16-0, Game 2 win to split the series. Julia Kinnally also etched her name in the record books in Tuesday's win, hitting the 62nd double of her career to break the program record – held by assistant coach Michelle Neveling – that has stood since 1995.
 
GAME 1: Arcadia 2, TCNJ 1
 
TCNJ's Elizabeth Gosse and Arcadia's Mac Champion went toe-to-toe in what ended up being a pitchers' duel in Game 1 before a seventh-inning run by the Knights clinched the 2-1 win for the visitors.
 
The Lions (8-10) created the first real scoring opportunity of the game in the second inning, when Maya Knasiak and Mckayla Yard hit back-to-back singles. Taylor Freudenberg hit a grounder to the pitcher to move the runners, but with two outs it was Champion forcing a fly out to left to keep TCNJ off the board.
 
While Gosse had kept Arcadia (6-14) in check through the first four innings – the junior allowed just two hits – a two-hit fifth inning that featured an RBI triple off the bat of the Knights' Grace Caldwell finally broke the tie and gave Arcadia a 1-0 lead.
 
That advantage was short-lived, however, with an RBI single from Camryn Kitchin that scored Kaci Neveling leveling the score once again in the sixth. With the score knotted at one heading into the seventh, it was Arcadia tacking on another run while the Lions went down in order, resulting in the 2-1 loss.
 
STANDOUT LIONS

• Despite taking the loss, Gosse impressed, allowing just two runs and fanning a season-high eight batters in 6.1 innings.
• Sairah Llano was crucial in her short appearance, entering the game with the bases loaded and one out before retiring two straight Knights batters.
• Neveling and Yard both went 2-3 at the plate, with Neveling accounting for TCNJ's lone run.

GAME 2: TCNJ 16, Arcadia 0
 
Tuesday's second game told a completely different story, with the Lions pouring on 16 runs on 15 hits in their largest win of the season.
 
TCNJ wasted no time opening the scoring in Game 2, scoring two in both the first – the second of which came on Kinnally's record-breaking double – and second innings to jump in front 4-0. The Lions would quickly double their lead in the third to threaten the mercy-rule victory.
 
Kitchin opened the inning with a single through the left side, advancing to second after Yard hit one back up the middle. Rachel Alleci then drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases, with an RBI grounder off the bat of Knasiak scoring Jules Fuchs – the freshman entered as a pinch runner for Kitchin. TCNJ's bats stayed hot from there, with Olivia Santos registering her third hit of the game to reload the bases before Neveling ripped a bases-clearing double to center field to balloon the lead to eight.
 
Now on the mound, Knasiak continued to mow down the Knights' batters, with an eight-run bottom of the fourth all but putting the game out of reach. In the Lions' highest scoring inning of the season, they got RBIs from Alecci, Sara Vincent, Amelia Santos, Estelow, Kitchin and Grace Brouillard to set a season-high run total with 16.
 
Just three outs away from the win, Llano made her second appearance out of the bullpen and forced two ground balls – the second of which turned into TCNJ's first double play of the season – to end the game after five innings with a score of 16-0.
 
STANDOUT LIONS

• Knasiak earned her sixth win of the season after allowing just one hit and fanning seven in four shutout innings.
• Olivia Santos was a perfect 3-3 with a team-high three runs.
• Neveling finished with a season-high five RBIs.
• Estelow went 2-3 with two runs and three RBIs.
• Kitchin and Yard also registered multiple hits in the win, both going 2-3.

UP NEXT

• The Lions open NJAC play with a doubleheader against Ramapo Saturday, March 29, with first pitch of the twin bill scheduled for 1 p.m.