CAMDEN, N.J. - The TCNJ softball team wrapped up its four-game road trip with a doubleheader against Rutgers-Camden Wednesday afternoon, cruising to a 9-1, Game 1 win before completing the sweep with a 4-1 win in Game 2.
 
GAME 1: TCNJ 9, Rutgers-Camden 1 (5 inn.)
 
The Lions (14-12, 6-2 NJAC) wasted no time jumping in front in Wednesday's opener, using RBIs from Olivia Santos and Julia Kinnally to take a 2-0 lead after one. The Scarlet Raptors (4-19, 2-6 NJAC) got one back in the second after Ryleigh Lender hit an RBI double, but it was TCNJ scoring a combined six runs in the third and fourth innings to take a commanding lead.
 
Kaci Neveling led off the third frame by drawing a walk, stealing second before advancing to third on a Santos single. Morgan Estelow then got in on the action with a single of her own to score Neveling, setting up Kinnaly to hit a 2-RBI single back up the middle to build the lead to 5-1.
 
It was more of the same in the fourth, with an error allowing Kathryn Carollo – the freshman entered the game as a pinch runner after Rachel Alecci roped a ground-rule double – to score before Estelow struck again with a 2-RBI single to right, ballooning the lead to 8-1.
 
An RBI grounder off the bat of Alecci made it 9-1 in the fifth, with Maya Knasiak allowing a lone hit in the bottom of the inning to secure the run-rule win.
 
STANDOUT LIONS

• Santos finished 3-4 with three runs and one RBI.
• Estelow went 2-3 with a team-high three RBIs.
• Knasiak allowed just one run on three hits across five innings in her 10th win of the season.
  • The sophomore also registered the 200th strikeout of her career in the fourth inning.

GAME 2: TCNJ 4, Rutgers-Camden 1
 
Wednesday's rematch was much more tightly contested, but a three-run sixth inning was the difference maker in a 4-1 win to complete the sweep for the Lions.
 
Both teams created scoring chances through the first three innings but were unable to convert before TCNJ finally broke the tie in the fourth.
 
Estelow led off the frame with a double to left field, with Kinnally being intentionally walked on the ensuing at bat before the duo both moved up 60 feet on a passed ball. Sara Vincent drew a walk on her at-bat to load the bases, with a fielder's choice off the bat of Mckayla Yard scoring Estelow to make it 1-0. The Lions threatened for more with the bases loaded and no one out, but their next three batters were retired to limit the damage.
 
The Scarlet Raptors returned the favor in the fifth, taking advantage of an error to tie the game at one, and with the bases loaded and one out, it was Elizabeth Gosse turning a double play from the circle to end the frame and set up the Lions for their three-run sixth.
 
Kinnally hit a single to center to lead things off, advancing to second on a sac bunt before Yard roped one down the right field line to score the graduate student. An error allowed Yard to score before Gianna Vazquez hit a grounder to first that brought Yard across home plate to make it 4-1.
 
Gosse continued to shut down the Rutgers-Camden hitters, retiring the next six batters she faced to secure the 4-1 win and series sweep.
 
STANDOUT LIONS

• Gosse allowed one unearned run on five hits in a complete-game effort.
• Yard went 1-3 with two RBIs, including the game-winner in the sixth inning.

UP NEXT

• The Lions return home for a doubleheader against Montclair State Saturday, April 12. First pitch of the twin bill is set for 1 p.m.