JERSEY CITY, N.J. | The New Jersey City University (NJCU) softball team played its third and fourth games in two days and dropped a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) doubleheader to TCNJ at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.
Game 1: TCNJ 11, NJCU 1 (5 inn.)
NJCU (4-27, 2-13) managed just one hit, a double by Danika Borza (Keyport, N.J./Keyport), in the loss. Maggie Martin (Spring Lake Heights, N.J./Manasquan) started in the circle and was tagged for six runs, three earned, before being replaced by Elyze Lopez (Reseda, Calif./John F. Kennedy) in the second inning.
TCNJ (20-13, 9-6) erupted for 13 hits and 11 runs, led by pitcher Maya Knasiak, who went 2-for-2 with a double and four RBI at the plate while tossing a complete game in the circle. Camryn Kitchin went 2-for-3 with two RBI, and Grace Brouillard added two hits and two RBI, including a two-run double in the fourth.
The Lions wasted no time getting on the board, putting up three runs in the top of the first against Martin. After Santos drew a leadoff walk and advanced on a wild pitch, Martin hit Gianna Vazquez to put two on. Leonhauser followed with a sacrifice bunt to score Vazquez, and Kitchin singled to left to score Knasiak and make it 3-0.
TCNJ blew the game open in the second with five more runs. Lopez came on in relief and immediately inherited a loaded situation, walking Vazquez to force in a run. Knasiak then delivered a two-run double down the left-field line to clear the bases. The Lions added three more in the fourth, highlighted by a two-run double by Brouillard through the right side.
Game 2: TCNJ 8, NJCU 5
NJCU (4-28, 2-14) managed six hits in the loss, with Danika Borza (Keyport, N.J./Keyport) leading the offense with a double and two RBI. Kiara Taylor (Berlin, Md./Stephen Decatur) recorded two hits and an RBI, while Emma Hanlon (Highland, N.Y./Highland) added a hit and an RBI.
TCNJ (21-13, 10-6) plated four runs in the top of the first inning to take early control and never relinquished the lead. Morgan Leonhauser paced the Lions, going 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI. Gianna Vazquez added two hits, including a triple, while Emily Evans and Grace Brouillard each contributed two hits with a double apiece. Taylor Menzel chipped in with a triple and an RBI.
TCNJ burst out of the gate in the top of the first, scoring four runs against Borza. Leonhauser drove in a run with a single before a pair of wild pitches allowed additional runs to score. Brouillard added a single to right field to plate another, and the Lions added a run when Biggio scored on a wild pitch to go up 4-0.
TCNJ tacked on a run in the second when Leonhauser singled through the right side to score Olivia Santos, who had reached on a hit and advanced via a stolen base and a wild pitch.
The Gothic Knights responded in the bottom of the third, plating three runs to cut into the deficit. Shannon McGuire (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun) reached on a throwing error and eventually scored. Hanlon singled to third to score McGuire, and Taylor singled up the middle to score Borza. A stolen base by Taylor and an error on the throw allowed Hanlon to cross the plate as well, trimming the deficit to 5-3.
The Lions answered in the fifth when Leonhauser drilled a two-run home run to right field off Borza, scoring Vazquez, who had led off the inning with a triple.
NJCU made a late push in the bottom of the seventh when Borza doubled to left center, plating two runs, to bring the score to 8-5, but the Gothic Knights could not complete the comeback as TCNJ held on for the win.
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