SALISBURY, Md. – The TCNJ softball team split a pair of games against nationally-ranked opposition on Sunday, ending the weekend with two wins out of four games. Just like on Saturday, they fell to #25 Swarthmore before bouncing back with a win against #18 Salisbury.
 
GAME 1: TCNJ 4, #25 Swarthmore 5
 
Swarthmore struck first in the Sunday morning tilt against the Lions, scoring a run in the first inning. TCNJ tied up the game in the top of the fifth inning, however, thanks to an error which allowed Emily Evans to score after had she singled earlier in the frame. In the bottom of that inning, the Garnet immediately responded with three of their own to open up a three-run lead.
 
That wouldn't be the end of the story, though, as TCNJ did just as much damage in the sixth. The Lions loaded the bases thanks to a lead-off double from Morgan Leonhauser, a wild pitch, and a fielding error. Jessica Sclafani was then hit by a pitch to drive in a run to cut the lead to runs. After that, back-to-back singles from Emily Gill and then Evans tied the game at four a piece. Sclafani tried to take the lead by tagging up on a short fly ball with two outs, but she was ultimately tagged out at home plate to end the top of the sixth.
 
Swarthmore themselves loaded the bases in the bottom sixth, putting reliever Elizabeth Gosse into a jam. TCNJ were able to escape after just giving up one run, but the Garnet took a 5-4 lead which held up to allow Swarthmore to eke out a narrow victory.
 
STANDOUT LIONS

• Evans: 2-3, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB
• Leonhauser: 2-4

 
Game 2: TCNJ 4, #18 Salisbury 2
 
To help TCNJ to a weekend sweep of the #18 Sea Gulls, Maya Knasiak pitched the 19^th complete game of her career. The 2025 NFCA All-Region selection tossed seven strikeouts and gave up just three hits, two walks, and one earned run.
 
She also got substantial run support from her team, all of which came in the top of the fourth inning. Leonhauser led off with a single into left, and Jules Fuchs was hit by a pitch a couple of batters later. Camryn Kitchin also got beaned by a pitch after that, loading the bases for the Lions. TCNJ didn't let that opportunity slip away, as Brooke Hamaty recorded the first hit of her collegiate career with a two-run double, followed up by Evans who hit a two-run double herself. The Sea Gulls did score a run in the bottom of the fourth, and then another in the bottom of the fifth to cut it to a two-run lead. Knasiak and the Lions only allowed one hit in the final two innings, however, to end the weekend on a high note.
 
STANDOUT LIONS

• Knasiak: 7.0 IP, 7 SO, 1 ER, 3 hits allowed
• Evans: 1-3, 1 2B, 2 RBI
• Hamaty: 1-3, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R

 
UP NEXT

• Later this week (March 6-7), TCNJ will travel to Raleigh, North Carolina to compete in the Grand Slam Triangle Softball Classic.