Ewing, N.J. (4/6/24) – The Kean University softball team split with host The College of New Jersey on Saturday afternoon.

Game One – TCNJ 3, Kean 1

HOW IT HAPPENED:

With two outs in their first at-bat, Kean's (13-10, 1-3 NJAC) Karly Messina doubled in the gap.  She was promptly driven home one pitch later with an RBI single from Maya Thompson.

TCNJ (14-6, 1-3 NJAC) tied things up the same inning as Kaci Neveling led off with a walk and came around to score on a two out, RBI double from Julia Kinnally.

The Cougars had their next best chance to score in the fourth frame with runners on second and third with one out.  But Elizabeth Goose got back-to-back groundouts to end the threat.

The Lions took the lead and scored what would be the final runs in the bottom of the fifth. TCNJ scored on a Kean miscue and a Neveling RBI single.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

Gianna Pickens collected two hits in the opener.

Game Two – Kean 8, TCNJ 4

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Cougars jumped out to a 5-0 lead with two runs in the first and a three spot in the second.

Melody Caces started things off with a single and she advanced into scoring position on an error.  Eliza Filus doubled her home and after stealing third came around to score on an RBI single from Lauren Paulk.

Filus connected again in the top of the second with an RBI single and Messina followed with a two RBI double.

TCNJ erased the shutout with two runs in the same inning and kept chipping away to pull within one in the fifth inning as Kinnally lofted a sac fly.

Filus added insurance in the top of the sixth with a two out, three run homer to center.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

Filus was 3-for-4 with five RBI and three runs scored.

Anabella Farinha (4-2) earned the win after tossing five innings and allowing one earned run.

UP NEXT:

Kean travels to New Jersey City University on Sunday for a rescheduled matchup.