EWING, N.J. - The TCNJ softball team put together a pitching masterclass in its doubleheader against Rutgers-Camden Tuesday afternoon, riding a pair of complete-game shutouts from Maya Knasiak and Elizabeth Gosse to a sweep of the Scarlet Raptors. The shutouts were the Lions' 10th and 11th of the season respectively, extending their win streak to four games
 
GAME 1: TCNJ 12, Rutgers-Camden 0 (5 inn.)
 
Knasiak continued her recent run of perfection in Game 1, extending her streak of scoreless innings to an unprecedented 45.1. The junior allowed a lone hit across five frames, fanning eight in what was her eight complete-game shutout of the season – matching her combined total from her first two seasons in Ewing.
 
Despite what the final score might suggest, it was the Scarlet Raptors (6-8, 1-3 NJAC) getting the first runner in scoring position after Alana Gannon roped a double to left center. Making the immediate correction, however, was Knasiak, who would allow just one base runner over the final four innings.
 
After the junior got herself out of the first-inning jam, it was TCNJ's bats lending a hand to give the Lions their first and only lead of the game. Emily Evans got things started with a single up the middle, with Knasiak – the same one that tossed her eighth shutout of the year in the circle – launched a double to right to put two in scoring position. Grace Brouillard would capitalize on the scoring opportunity, hitting a sac fly to right that scored Evans and gave TCNJ the early 1-0 lead.
 
The Lions tripled their lead one inning later when Morgan Estelow hit a two-RBI single back up the middle that scored Gianna Vazquez and Dani Biggio to make it a 3-0 game after two.
 
Knasiak continued to mow down Rutgers-Camden batters – its only other baserunner came in the fourth inning on a drawn walk – before TCNJ's offense found another gear in the home half, pouring on nine runs to end proceedings early.
 
Vazquez started the rally with a double to left center, with a Jules Fuchs single on the ensuing at-bat putting runners on the corners. Evans cleared the pair with a two-RBI double to left before Knasiak turned on the second pitch she saw and sent it high and over the fence for her first home run of the season, boosting the Lions' lead to 7-0. TCNJ added RBI base knocks from Emily Gill, Biggio, Vazquez and Olivia Santos to push its lead to 12 after four, with Knasiak retiring the side in the top of the fifth to force the run-rule victory – the junior's third in her last four starts.
 
STANDOUT LIONS

• Knasiak (10-1): CG, 0 ER, 8 K, 2-3, 2 RBIs, 1 HR
• Evans: 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBIs, 1 2B
• Vazquez: 2-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 2B

GAME 2: TCNJ 8, Rutgers-Camden 0 (5 inn.)
 
It was Gosse's turn to dominate in Tuesday's second game, matching Knasiak's one allowed hit while striking out three in her third complete-game shutout of the season.
 
After Gosse took just six pitches to retire the side in her first inning of work, it was the Lions scoring twice to jump in front. Estelow and Evans opened the inning with a pair of walks before a wild pitch scored the senior for the game's first run. Knasiak – now the DP – hit an RBI groundout on the next at-bat to bring Evans home and double TCNJ's advantage before a double play brought the first inning to a close.
 
Errors proved to be the difference from that point on, with untimely mistakes on the part of the Scarlet Raptors allowing the Lions to score four runs between the second and fourth innings to take a 6-0 lead into the fifth.
 
Back in the circle with that six-run lead, Gosse saw her bid for a no-hitter fall just short by giving up a single in the fifth inning. In the home half, however, it was TCNJ getting an RBI single from Biggio before a questionable defensive decision on a Vazquez grounder scored Gill to push the Lions' lead to eight and end the game.
 
STANDOUT LIONS

• Gossse (3-3): CG, 0 ER, 3 K
• Evans: 1-3, 2 RBI, 1 R
• Biggio: 2-3, 1 RBI, 1 R
• Estelow: 2 R, 1 RBI, 4 SB

UP NEXT

• The Lions hit the road Saturday, April 4 for an NJAC doubleheader against William Paterson. First pitch of the twin bill is set for 11 a.m.