The Lions served up some good home cooking this week, as the team swept two straight series at Lions' Park.
The College took two from Haverford College, ending their five-game winning streak Thursday afternoon, before sweeping Rutgers University-Newark on Sunday. They now stand at 9-1 on their home field.
"We feel very comfortable because it's our home field and we don't want anyone to take us on it," junior pitcher Ashley Minervini said.
The first game against Haverford College was a pitcher's duel, with the College coming out on top, 1-0.
Freshman pitcher Lauren Fitzsimmons and sophomore pitcher Jamie Moir combined on the team's sixth shutout of the season, with Fitzsimmons picking up the win and Moir picking up her first save.
Fitzsimmons improved to 6-3 on the season, as she went 6 2/3 innings with three strikeouts.
"Lauren is doing a great job, and the fact that she is only a freshman is even more impressive," Minervini said. "She has been key asset to our success this season and I wish her continued success on the mound."
The only run scored in the contest was scored by junior infielder Ellen Seavers in the bottom of the second. Seavers crossed the plate after leading off the inning with a triple, and she was batted in by junior outfielder Danielle Hagel.
The second game had a little more offense to it, as the Lions completed the perfect day by a final of 5-2.
The early advantage went to the Lions, as Hagel scored on a double by freshman infielder Katelyn Congilose in the bottom of the second.
Haverford struck right back, scoring two runs to take a 2-1 lead.
The Lions answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good. Seavers hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game, and senior outfielder Kelly Armstrong knocked in the go-ahead run with a single.
After an RBI each by Hagel and Seavers, the Lions iced the game at 5-2.
Sophomore Alex Sietsma got her first victory of the campaign, throwing a complete game in the process.
The doubleheader against the 1-19 Scarlet Raiders was completely one-sided, as the Lions beat the Scarlet Raiders in consecutive five-inning games.
Game One saw Lions ace Minervini pitch four innings of one-run ball, while Sietsma provided a perfect fifth inning to invoke the mercy rule on the visitors.
The home team got started early, as sophomore Caitlin Seamster's two-run double and two passed balls that scored a run apiece put the Lions up 5-0.
It was downhill from there for the Scarlet Raiders. The Lions piled it on with two more runs in the third and four more runs in the fourth to finish the game off at 12-1.
"My team's offense gives me such motivation to do well on the mound," Minervini said.
The second contest was much of the same. The Lions rolled 8-0 as Moir made the most of her first start of the season, throwing a one-hit shutout for her second victory.
The offense was still clicking as well, as the team notched six runs in the fourth. Sophomore Colleen Cawley drove in two with a single, and Seavers belted a two-run shot to end all hope for the Raiders.
The Lions now stand at 15-11 overall and 4-2 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference.
The team heads back to the field on Saturday, as they travel to William Paterson University for a doubleheader against the Pioneers at 3 p.m.
