JERSEY CITY, N.J. - The TCNJ softball team combined for 25 hits in its NJAC doubleheader against New Jersey City Tuesday afternoon, cruising to an 11-1, Game 1 win before taking Game 2, 8-5 to complete the sweep.
 
GAME 1: TCNJ 11, NJCU 1 (5 inn.)
 
The Lions (21-13, 10-6 NJAC) wasted no time establishing a lead in Tuesday's opener, scoring eight runs in the first two innings en route to the run-rule victory.
 
A four-pitch walk drawn by Olivia Santos set the tone in TCNJ's three-run first inning. Gianna Vazquez was next on-base after getting hit by a pitch, with the duo executing a double steal to set up Maya Knasiak for an RBI single through the left side to open the scoring. Morgan Leonhauser laid down a bunt on the ensuing at-bat to score Vazquez before a Camryn Kitchin single plated Knasiak to almost immediately put the Lions up 3-0.
 
Following the first of three straight perfect innings from Knasiak in the circle, it was TCNJ tacking on five runs on three hits in the second to balloon its lead to eight. Most of the damage was done on a bases-clearing double off the bat of – you guessed it – Knasiak that pushed the junior's RBI total to four and made it 7-0, before Kitchin's second RBI single in as many innings gave the Lions an 8-0 advantage after two.
 
Three more runs on a game-high four hits in the fourth inning gave TCNJ its first double-digit lead of the afternoon (11-0) before Knasiak – despite a lone double and unearned run in the home half of the fourth spoiling her perfect outing – struck out five of the final six batters she would face to secure her 12th complete game of the season and the 11-1 victory.
 
STANDOUT LIONS

• Knasiak (13-4): CG, 1 hit allowed, 0 ER, 10 Ks, 2-2, 4 RBIs
• Santos: 2-2, 2 R, 2 BB
• Kitchin: 2-3, 2 RBI
• Grace Brouillard: 2-2, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 2B

GAME 2: TCNJ 8, NJCU 5
 
Underclassmen led the way in Game 2, with Sairah Llano tossing 4.2 innings of one-hit softball in relief while Morgan Leonhauser led the way with four RBIs and three hits – the last of which was also her first collegiate home run.
 
The Lions were once again busy early, scoring four runs in the first inning in a game they never trailed. Leonhauser was first to plate a run on a return-to-sender single that scored Santos, with Taylor Menzel and Brouillard adding RBI base knocks before a wild pitch brought Dani Biggio across home plate to give TCNJ a 4-0 lead after the opening half inning.
 
Leonhauser and Santos combined again in the second to push the Lions' advantage to five, but it was the Gothic Knights (4-28, 2-14 NJAC) capitalizing on a pair of TCNJ errors to score three of their own in the third and make it a 5-3 game. NJCU threatened for more with two runners on and one out, but Llano did well to strike out the first batter she faced out of the bullpen – paired with a well-executed pick off at third by Brouillard – to end the inning.
 
Tuesday's fourth inning was one of just four all afternoon that did not feature a run, but it was Leonhauser starting things up again in the top of the fifth with her first collegiate long ball. Vazquez opened the frame with a triple to right field before the freshman followed the leader, sending one just over the fence in right to push TCNJ's lead back to four at 7-3.
 
Errors plagued both sides in the seventh, with Emily Evans scoring after an errant throw to make it an 8-3 game before two more Lion errors – along with the lone hit Llano allowed on the day – plated two more for the Gothic Knights in the home half. With the tying run on deck, however, it was Llano forcing a routine grounder to second to clinch the 8-5 win and series sweep.
 
STANDOUT LIONS

• Llano (SV, 1): 4.2 IP, 1 hit allowed, 0 ER, 3 Ks
• Leonhauser: 3-4, 4 RBIs, 2 R, 1 HR
• Vazquez: 2-4, 1 3B, 1 R
• Menzel: 1-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 3B

UP NEXT

• The Lions wrap up their regular season Saturday, April 25 with a doubleheader against Montclair State. With the Red Hawks sitting two points ahead of TCNJ in the conference standings, the Lions will need a sweep to guarantee the right to host a first-round game in next week's NJAC Tournament.