EWING, N.J. - The TCNJ softball team put together a pair of instant classics in its NJAC doubleheader against Stockton Tuesday afternoon, winning both games via the walk-off. A timely error helped the Lions grab a 3-2 win in Game 1 before Olivia Santos capped off her impressive day with an RBI single in extra innings to walk off Game 2, 6-5 and secure the pivotal sweep of the Ospreys.
 
GAME 1: TCNJ 3, Stockton 2
 
There was little to separate the sides in Tuesday's opener, with both sides able to muster just one hit apiece through the first two innings before TCNJ (11-11, 3-1 NJAC) broke the tie in the third.
 
The Lions' first two batters went down swinging, but it was Kaci Neveling starting a two-out rally with a hard-hit single to short. Morgan Estelow followed the graduate student's single up with her own, moving Neveling to third and setting up Julia Kinnally to hit an RBI single through the left side to make it 1-0.
 
Maya Knasiak continued to mow down Osprey (13-9) hitters in the circle, striking out the side in the fourth, but Stockton would level the score one inning later off a solo shot from Caitlin Cetrulo.
 
Both teams would add runs over the next inning – TCNJ's came in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single from Sara Vincent before the Ospreys responded with a run of their own in the top of the sixth – sending the game into the seventh with the score level at two.
 
Knasiak retired the side in the top of the frame, and after a Vincent grounder moved Estelow and Kinnally to second and third, respectively – the pair each hit one-out singles to start the game-clinching rally – it was Rachel Alecci running hard down the line to force a dropped ball by Stockton's first baseman, scoring Estelow to win Game 1, 3-2.
 
STANDOUT LIONS

• Knasiak was excellent once again in her eighth win of the season, allowing one earned run on three hits and striking out nine in a complete game effort.
• Estelow finished 3-4 with two runs, including the game-winner.
• Kinnally was also 3-4 with one RBI

GAME 2: TCNJ 6, Stockton 5 (8 inn.)
 
The Lions went to extras for the first time since their 20-inning marathon against Rowan in last year's NJAC Tournament, this time coming out on top via Santos' walk-off single to secure the 6-5 win and series sweep.
 
The Ospreys struck early in Game 2, using a pair of miscues to score three runs in the opening half inning. TCNJ would respond with two of their own off the bats of Estelow and Kinnally before the team's traded a run apiece in the second – Stockton's coming on a solo home run while the Lions got theirs on an RBI single from Santos – to make it a 4-3 game after two.
 
Julia Roessler tossed a perfect fourth inning in relief of starter Elizabeth Gosse, allowing an RBI single back up the middle from Neveling to tie the score at four before the senior found herself in trouble in the fifth.
 
With two on and nobody out in the top of the fifth, Sairah Llano came in for Roessler and retired the next three batters to keep the Ospreys off the board. Facing a similar situation an inning later with two on and one out, the freshman forced a fielder's choice before fanning the Ospreys' Charli Czaczowski to end the inning in one of Llano's best showings of her debut season.
 
An untimely error for the visitors allowed Kathryn Carollo to score and give TCNJ a 6-5 lead – its first of the game – heading into the seventh, with Llano returning for what the Lions hoped was the final inning, After her heroics in the fifth and sixth innings, however, freshman allowed her first hit of the game – a third solo home run on the day for Stockton – that leveled the score once again at six. Gosse returned in relief and got out of a jam before the Lions went down in order to send the game to extras.
 
TCNJ's defense was on display in the eighth inning, with impressive plays from Estelow and Gianna Vazquez – the junior threw out the go-ahead run at home on a grounder to second – keeping the Ospreys off the board before Gosse registered a critical strikeout.
 
With the Lions up to bat in the bottom of the inning, a bunt moved Vazquez to third, and three at-bats later it was Santos hitting one back up the middle to score the junior and clinch the 6-5, come-from-behind win.
 
STANDOUT LIONS

• Santos finished 3-4 with one run and two RBIs.
• Kinnally went 2-4 with one RBI
• Yard registered the 100th hit of her career, going 1-2 with two runs.
• After struggling at the start of the game, Gosse tossed 1.1 scoreless innings in relief to secure her third win of the season.

UP NEXT

• The Lions are on the road Saturday, April 5 for a doubleheader against Kean. First pitch of the twin bill is scheduled for 1 p.m.