The Mount Aloysius College softball team picked up a big victory on Friday, defeating No. 9 The College of New Jersey in the first round of the NCAA championship tournament. Despite 11 strikeouts by the Lions' pitching staff on the day, the Mounties came out on top, 2-0, in the opening round of the NCAA Division III regional tournament. The Mounties improved to 33-8 with the win, while the ninth-ranked Lions fell to 33-7.
Mount Aloysius opened the scoring in the top of the third on an RBI single to center by sophomore outfielder Kayla Hopkins with two outs in the inning. The Lions put two on base during the bottom of the fourth with two outs, but were unable to get on the scoreboard after a ground out ended the frame. The Mounties then added a run in the top of the fifth on a bases loaded walk to Brianna Benscoter, scoring Hopkins, to make it 2-0.
The Lions created a two-out rally of their own in the bottom of half of the fifth as they loaded the bases with two outs on an infield single and walk, but the rally ended with a ground out to second base.
Hopkins had a big day for the Mounties, going 3-for-4 at the plate, while driving in one run and also scoring one of her own.
Sophomore Kara Pisczek picked up the win in the circle, improving her record to 10-1 on the season.
Mount Aloysius returns to action on Saturday, May 11, as they take on Randolph Macon College on the TCNJ campus.