EWING, N.J. | For the second series in a row, the Scarlet Raiders faced a team ranked in the top 25. On Saturday it was No. 24 Rowan University and today the faced off against No. 16 The College of New Jersey. TCNJ knocked off the Scarlet Raiders in both games by scores of, 4-1 and 5-0.
Game 1: TCNJ 4, Rutgers University-Newark 1
Reigning NJAC Rookie Pitcher of the Week,
Jackie Lara, was handed the ball in game one. Lara (5-7) allowed five hits in her six innings while striking out four batters.
Julie Contravo went 2-for-4 in the game while
Emily Bartus finished 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Jess McGuire was a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate with an RBI while Lauren Conroy finished 1-for-3 with a team-high two RBI. Eliza Sweet (11-3) picked up the win from the circle while striking out four and allowing seven hits.
The Lions scored all the runs they would need to win in the bottom of the third inning. Allie Immers got the Lions started with a single to left center to bring in Elyse Nardoz before Lauren Conro found a gap in left field to score both Immers and Katie Wincho.
Down 4-0, the Scarlet Raiders knew they had to find a way to get their bats going. In the top of the sixth, the Scarlet Raiders looked to have had momentum on their side. Contravo led with a double to right center before
Sam Morton was walked.
With the bases loaded and just one out the Scarlet Raiders looked primed to tie the game up. Unfortunately, Bartus' single only brought in one run before a strikeout and a ground out ended the inning and their comeback effort.
The Scarlet Raiders out-hit the Lions 9-6 in game one but left 9 runners on the base while TCNJ left just five.
Game 2: TCNJ 5, Rutgers University-Newark 0
It was
Paige Masiello's (6-7) turn in the circle for game two, however, she shared the same fate as Lara did in game one. Contravo was the only Scarlet Raider to record a hit in game two, finishing 1-for-3.
Camryn Davie recorded a ground out RBI to put the Lions on the board in the bottom of the second before TCNJ added another pair in the bottom of the third. Back-to-back doubles brought in runs for the Lions to bump their lead to three. TCNJ kept their foot on the gas and scored two more runs over the final two innings while stifling Rutgers University-Newark's offense.
The Scarlet Raiders return to action on Saturday, April 27 where they will host Rutgers-Camden in their final game of the season.
