UNION, N.J. – Highlighted by a milestone win for coach Sally Miller, the TCNJ Softball team split a hard-fought doubleheader in the NJAC opener against Kean Sunday afternoon.

The thrilling extra innings win for the Lions (11-7, 1-1 NJAC) represented a historic one for head coach Sally Miller. Miller joins TCNJ icon June Walker (721 victories) in the illustrious 700 career win club. She also becomes the 11th active NCAA Division III Softball coach to reach the career win milestone.

GAME ONE (TCNJ 7, Kean 6 - 8 Innings)
TCNJ struck first in the top of the first, Kaci Neveling landed a leadoff double right at the left field line, before stealing third. With two outs, Mckayla Yard drove the senior in with a single that dropped in shallow centerfield in which the Kean center fielder was unable to track down.

The Cougars flipped the game in the bottom of the second, taking the lead after scoring two runs.

The Lions countered a half inning later to go back up by a run. Julia Kinnally doubled to right center to lead things off before Yard put runners at the corners with a single. Julia Mayernik retook the lead for TCNJ with a two RBI single to left field to score both baserunners.

The sixth saw TCNJ separate from the Cougars with a three-run top half of the inning. Neveling reached base first with a one-out walk, before advancing to second after Carifi singled on a ball hit to the shortstop. Kinnally then loaded the bases with a walk of her own. Two runs reached home first on a Yard flyout. Following a tag up from Neveling on the sacrifice fly, Carifi would also advance up to third before scoring as well when the Cougars right fielder made a throwing error that bounced off target from the plate.

Mayernik gave TCNJ a 6-2 lead with a follow up single to left field to score Kinnally.

With her single in the top half of the inning representing her second hit of the game, senior Jaclyn Carifi also reached a major career milestone, as she officially hit the 100 hit milestone as a Lion.

Kean quickly rallied in the bottom half, putting three runs on the board to cut the Lions lead down to one. Two of the runs came off a home run with one on and no outs.

In the bottom of the seventh, Kean led things off with a home run tied the game. Couple batters later, the Cougars found themselves in a bases loaded situation with just one out. Thankfully, Carifi forced a game-saving double play from center field on a sacrifice fly attempt by throwing out the would-be game winning run at the plate after fielding the flyout. Mayernik would meet the cougars baserunner at the plate in a collision to secure the tagout.

In the top of the eighth, with freshman Ashley O'Hagan placed on second, Neveling led off the inning by advancing O'Hagan to third on a groundout. Carifi followed up by driving in the winning run on a single hit to the shortstop.

On the mound, freshman Elizabeth Gosse pitched the first five innings of the game, and collected four strikeouts. In relief, Gillian Roberts pitched 1.1 innings before Alexandra DiBenedetto closed out the final 1.2 innings of the game to collect her first win of the season and second of her career.

Mayernik led the Lions at the plate with a four-hit, three-RBI performance. Neveling collected two hits, scored a run and stole a base. Yard and Kinnally eached finished with two hits. Freshman Gianna Vazquez recorded a hit as a pinch hitter.

GAME TWO (Kean 4, TCNJ 3)
Mayernik kept her hot hitting going in the second inning by blasting her first home run of the season to left center. Her deep drive represented the lone early run scored in a game that began as a pitcher's duel for the first 3.5 innings.

However, Kean took the lead in the bottom of the fourth with a three run half inning after taking advantage of an error on the leadoff and racking up five hits afterwards.

The Lions responded by tying the game in the top of the fifth. After Ashley O'Hagan reached on a hip by pitch, Neveling drove her to third on a double to left center. O'Hagan touched home plate safely a batter latter when Carifi reached on an error by the first baseman. Kinnally drove in TCNJ's third run of the game on a successful bunt single to score Neveling.

Ultimately, Kean scored the game winning run in the bottom of the seventh after a Cougars single through the right side was all that's needed to score a baserunner from second.

On the mound, sophomore Julia Roessler pitched the first 5.1 innings in a solid start that saw her only give up one earned run. Gosse pitched the final inning in relief and struck out a batter.

Neveling finished the game a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate. Carifi, Kinnally and Mayernik each finished with an RBI. Vazquez reached base twice with a hit and a walk.

UP NEXT
The Lions will remain on the road next Tuesday as they face off against Stockton in a doubleheader starting at 2:30 p.m.