Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

EWING, NJ – Rutgers-Newark rattled No. 20 The College of New Jersey in the second game, but the Lions came away with an 8-0 and 12-7 sweep in a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader on Dr. June Walker Field.

IN GAME TWO, senior third baseman Monica Liotto's two-run, two-out double capped a five run outburst in the second inning which staked the Raiders to a 5-0 lead.  A lead-off double by senior first baseman Monica Bagan, a walk to junior designated player Liane Drastal and a bunt single by junior leftfielder Tori Santiago loaded the bases against starting pitcher Nicole Hroncich.  Rookie Katie Hourihan replace the starter, but a pair of infield errors led to two Rutgers-Newark runs before freshman second baseman Vannessa Romero grounded out to third to make it 3-0.  Liotto followed with her double.

But the Lions (24-10, NJAC 11-5) knotted the score at 5-5 in the bottom of the second on a rally capped by a two-out, two-run double by senior third baseman Kelly Hommen.

TCNJ went to their freshman ace Ashtin Helmer in the third inning, but Bagan greeted her with a home run to put the Raiders back on top at 6-5.  But Helmer settled in to handcuff Rutgers-Newark on four hits while striking out five and walking three in five full innings of relief.

Senior second baseman Ashley Sogluizzo put the Lions ahead for keeps in the bottom of the third with a two-run double.  She then stole third and came home on a throwing error by the catcher to give TCNJ an 8-6 lead.

Rutgers-Newark loaded the bases in the fifth inning and trimmed their deficit to 8-7. Liotto walked, Bagan singled and Santiago walked to fill the bases.  Pinch hitter Bianca Arroyo drew a walk to bring in a run, but the Raiders left the bases loaded when the Lions got a chopper in front of the plate to end the inning.

Senior rightfielder Michelle Casale gave the Lions some breathing room with a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth before freshman leftfielder Kristen Fitzsimmons delivered a two-run single in the sixth to make it 12-7.

IN GAME ONE, the Lions exploded for six runs on seven hits in the second inning against junior left-hander Brianna Alicchio (3-14) with Casale delivering a two-run single and freshman first baseman Deanna Utter capping the spree with a two-run double to center.

Junior first baseman Liane Drastal had two of the Raiders' three hits against junior Alex Carisone (5-2) who struck out two and walked no one in the five-inning mercy rule decision.  Drastal doubled in the second inning and singled in the fifth.  Junior rightfielder Tina Zaggia doubled in the third inning for the other Rutgers-Newark hit.

Senior centerfielder Liz Huttner paced Lions with three hits and two runs scored.  She singled and scored in the first inning, stroked an RBI single and scored in the second, and drove in the final TCNJ run with a double in the third.

Rutgers-Newark visits the College of Saint Elizabeth on Thursday for a 4 p.m. non-conference doubleheader before celebrating Senior Day on Saturday at 1 p.m. against NJAC foe Rutgers-Camden.