The College’s softball team played four games this past week, playing Richard Stockton College twice and Kean University twice. The College came away with three wins, two from Kean and one from Stockton. The three wins improve the Lions’ record to 20-8.
In the first game against Stockton, the College had a decisive victory by a score of 10-1.
Sophomore shortstop Ashley Sogluizzo kicked off the scoring barrage in the first inning against the Ospreys, crossing the plate after a hit off the bat of junior catcher Michelle Kent. The Lions tacked on five more runs in the third inning and never looked back, scoring three more runs in the fifth.
Junior outfielder Crystal Lee and sophomore third baseman Kelly Hommen each had three hits apiece. Freshman pitcher Alex Carisone also picked up her sixth win of the season.
“In the first game against Stockton we were able to capitalize on early opportunities to score,” Hommen said. “Combined with smart base-running we were able to avoid the outs and score runs.”
The second game against Stockton was a true nail biter as the Lions lost by a score of 8-7 in nine innings.
Going into the fifth inning, the Lions had a 2-0 advantage. Stockton tacked on four runs in the fifth and another three runs in the sixth to make the score 7-2.
Down by five runs in the bottom of the seventh, the Lions stormed back to even the score at 7-7. Doubles from sophomore outfielder Liz Huttner, Kent and senior outfielder Collen Cawley helped the Lions even the score.
The Ospreys were able to come away with an 8-7 victory after a RBI single in the top of the ninth gave them the lead. Freshman pitcher Austin Leigh pitched four innings of one-run ball in relief, only to take the loss.
In her return to the mound, junior pitcher Lauren Fitzsimmons picked up the win by pitching a complete game, a two-run gem with three strikeouts against Kean University. The Lions jumped to an early two-run advantage, only to see the Cougars tie the score up in the top of the third inning.
The Lions took back the lead with a RBI single from Huttner and a RBI double from junior first baseman Katelyn Congilose, to give them the 4-2 victory.
“Fitzsimmons is one of the biggest leaders and influential people on our team,” Hommen said. “Despite being hurt for the past few weeks, she has continued to motivate us and has really helped with our freshmen pitchers. Fitz has the ability and the potential to be one of the best pitchers in the country.”
Much like the second game, the Lions tacked on two runs, only to see the Cougars tie the score at 2-2. In the fifth inning, Lee ripped a bases-loaded triple, to give the Lions the 5-2 advantage. The Cougars clawed back to add on two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but Leigh came in for the two-out save. The save was the first of her collegiate career, which also enabled Carisone to pick up her seventh win of the season, the most by a Lion this season.
The Lions resume play on Friday, April 22, against New Jersey City University, in hopes of improving their 6-4 conference record. The Lions sit just two games behind Montclair State University for the top seed in the NJAC.
