TCNJ SOFTBALL PLAYERS NAMED TO ALL-NJAC TEAMS

Media Release

Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey softball team had four players honored by the New Jersey Athletic Conference for their performances on the diamond during the regular season, with two Lions earning a spot on the All-NJAC First Team.

Senior Christina Lizzi (Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) and sophomore Ellen Seavers (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) both garnered first-team honors, while sophomore Ashley Minervini (Cliffside Park, NJ/Cliffside Park) was named All-NJAC Second Team and sophomore Danielle Hagel (Egg Harbor, NJ/Oakcrest) received All-NJAC Honorable Mention.

Lizzi made the team as a first baseman after earning second-team honors in 2005 and 2006 as an outfielder. The change of positions did not slow her at the plate as she batted a steady .291 with three home runs and 19 runs batted in. She was also a perfect on the base paths with 16 steals in 16 attempts and leads the team with 21 walks.

At shortstop, Seavers and anchored the middle infield for the Lions and has led the team in a host of offensive categories this season. She has been consistent from the start hitting safely in 33 of 38 games with 17 multiple-hit games. The infielder put together hitting streaks of 11 and 12 games and is batting team-leading .396. She received All-NJAC Honorable Mention as a freshman last season.

Minervini has been the workhorse of TCNJ’s pitching staff logging a team-best 136.1 innings in 27 appearances and is third in the NJAC in strikeouts with 124. She is also fifth in the conference with 13 wins, which is a career best, to go along with a 1.90 earned-run average.

Hagel earned All-NJAC Honorable Mention for the second straight year, with this year’s recognition coming as an outfielder. The sophomore has set career highs in home runs (3) and runs batted in (20), while making 36 starts this season. One of her home runs was a game-winning grand slam in the top of the seventh inning to beat New Jersey City University.

The team has already advanced to the second round of the NJAC Tournament as the fourth-seeded Lions knocked off third-seeded Rowan University on Tuesday, 4-0. TCNJ is currently 24-15 on the season and has won six of its last seven games.

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