PITMAN, N.J. - The TCNJ softball team was picked to finish second in the NJAC Preseason Coaches Poll, as announced by the conference earlier today. The Lions were the only other team to receive a first-place vote with the remaining nine going to Rowan, which enters the season ranked fifth nationally.
 
TCNJ finished its 2025 campaign with a record of 23-15 – the program's seventh straight season with at least 20 wins – including a 15-3 mark in conference play. The Lions entered the NJAC Tournament as the No. 2 seed riding a seven-game winning streak, but suffered back-to-back losses in a surprise early exit.
 
TCNJ's strength entering 2026 remains in the circle, where Maya Knasiak and Elizabeth Gosse return for their junior and senior seasons respectively. Knasiak – a 2025 First Team All-NJAC and Third Team NFCA All-Region selection – will serve as the Lions' top arm after going 14-5 with a 2.67 ERA a season ago. The junior tossed 11 complete games, including four shutouts, and ranked third in the NJAC with 118 strikeouts across just 114.2 innings.
 
Gosse comes in as option 1B after posting a 9-9 record with a 3.15 ERA en route to repeat All-NJAC Second Team honors. The senior's 2025 campaign was highlighted by a win over a nationally-ranked Rowan side for the third straight season, this time allowing just two runs to hand the Profs their first loss of the year – they had started 31-0.
 
TCNJ will look to its seniors to carry much of the load at the plate, with Olivia Santos, Camryn Kitchin and Morgan Estelow serving as the top three returners. Santos spent much of the season in the leadoff spot, hitting .286 and finishing fifth on the team in runs (20), while Estelow racked up 17 RBIs and 22 runs – both team-best marks among returners. Kitchin, meanwhile, did most of her damage in conference play, batting .345 with three doubles and eight RBIs against NJAC opponents.
 
The Lions also welcome seven freshmen to the roster, many of which will look to make an immediate impact for a new-look TCNJ team.
 
Defending NJAC Champions Rowan received all nine possible first-place votes, with the Profs' vote going to TCNJ. Ramapo, the NJAC runner-up a season ago, rounded out the top three.
 
The Lions open their season Saturday, Feb. 28 with games against 25th-ranked Swarthmore and 18th-ranked Salisbury. First pitch is set for 12:30 p.m.

2026 NJAC Preseason Softball Coaches Poll:
1. Rowan (9 First-Place Votes)
2. TCNJ (1)
3. Ramapo
4. Stockton
5. Kean
6. Montclair State
7. William Paterson (dark horse)
8. Rutgers-Newark
9. Rutgers-Camden
10. NJCU