MONTCLAIR, N.J. - The TCNJ softball team entered its doubleheader against Montclair State needing a sweep to secure a home game in next week's NJAC Tournament. And thanks to a pair of gems thrown by Maya Knasiak and Elizabeth Gosse, the Lions did just that, stealing two from a red-hot Red Hawks team to lock up a top-four seed and the right to host a first round game.
 
GAME 1: TCNJ 4, Montclair State 1
 
Friday's opener started out as a pitcher's duel between Knasiak and Montclair State's Carly Mockenhaupt, with neither side able to generate more than a single base runner in the first two innings. The Red Hawks (26-14, 11-7 NJAC) threatened first with runners on the corners and just one out in the bottom of the third, but the Lions' ace coolly forced a grounder down the first base line before fanning her fourth batter of the afternoon to keep the hosts off the board.
 
Instead, it was TCNJ (23-13, 12-6 NJAC) breaking the scoreless tie with a run of their own in the next half inning, capitalizing on a fielding error by a Montclair State outfielder before a fielder's choice scored Morgan Leonhauser from third to give the Lions the lead.
 
A Red Hawk sacrifice fly in the fifth inning leveled things at one, but the tie was short-lived as TCNJ would score the game's final three runs to take Game 1. Taylor Menzel struck first with an RBI single through the left side that scored Gianna Vazquez, before the senior returned the favor with a two-RBI base knock that plated Olivia Santos and Jules Fuchs to push the Lions' advantage to three.
 
Knasiak returned for the seventh and – after a fielding error put a runner on first with one out – forced a pair of grounders to her middle infielders to clinch the 4-1 victory.
 
STANDOUT LIONS

• Knasiak (14-4): CG, 1 ER, 7 Ks
• Vazquez: 2-3, 2 RBI, 1 R
• Menzel: 2-3, 1 RBI

GAME 2: TCNJ 1, Montclair State 0
 
Hits were even harder to come by in Friday's rematch, but it was Gosse putting together her strongest outing of the season to earn TCNJ the one-run win, series sweep, and home game in next week's NJAC Tournament.
 
The contest's lone run came in the second inning in which Menzel led things off with a double down the left field line, extending her hitting streak to six games. A sac bunt moved the freshman over to third, with Camryn Kitchin sending the third pitch she saw back up the middle to score Menzel and give the Lions the only lead they would need.
 
Montclair State nearly tied things in the home half of the inning, but Santos sent a laser to home plate on a single to the outfield to catch Leah Monschein rounding third and keep the shutout intact.
 
Gosse was nearly untouchable from that point on, with more at-bats ending in a strikeout (6) than a hit (2) before a routine grounder to second clinched the hard-fought, 1-0 win.
 
STANDOUT LIONS

• Gosse (5-5): CG, 0 ER, 7 Ks (season-high)
  • Eclipsed 400 career innings pitched
• Menzel: 2-3, 1 2B, 1 R
• Kitchin: 2-3, 1 RBI

UP NEXT

• The Lions will be back home to host a first-round NJAC Tournament game Tuesday, April 28. The opponent – narrowed down to Montclair State, Kean or Ramapo – will be decided following Sunday's games.