SOFTBALL SWEEPS RUTGERS-NEWARK IN NJAC
DOUBLEHEADER
Junior first baseman Katie Hicks (Medford Lakes,
N.J.) hit a pair of homeruns and junior shortstop
Johanna Hedler (South Plainfield, N.J.) had a
homerun and a pair of doubles with three runs scored, as the Kean
University softball team swept Rutgers-Newark, 6-1 and 8-4, in New
Jersey Athletic Conference action on Tuesday afternoon. The
Cougars improved to 18-4 overall, 6-2 NJAC, while the Scarlet
Raiders fell to 9-15 overall, 1-7 in the conference.
GAME ONE: HICKS, HEDLER HOMER IN 6-1
VICTORY (BOXSCORE)
Junior first baseman Katie Hicks and junior
shortstop Johanna Hedler each hit a homerun in the
fourth inning and sophomore right-hander Meg Gierke (Glen
Gardner, N.J.) allowed just four hits with seven
strikeouts in the complete game victory, as the Cougars won the
opener 6-1.
The Cougars got on board in the first inning after Hedler
doubled to lead off the inning, advanced to third on a bunt single
by sophomore left fielder Jesse Buchanan (Washington Twp.,
N.J.) and scored on a Rutgers-Newark error. The
Cougars added another run when Buchanan scored on a sacrifice fly
by junior third baseman Kara Schultz (Clinton,
N.J.).
Rutgers-Newark cut the deficit in half in the top of the third
inning, as freshman designated player Travia Smith
(Flemington, N.J.) scored on a RBI single by junior
centerfielder Priscilla Rodriguez-Vivas (Cliffside Park,
N.J.).
In the bottom half of the inning, Kean pushed the lead back to
the two-run cushion on a RBI single by sophomore second baseman
Sara Steinman (Springfield, N.J.).
The following inning, the Cougars broke the game open scoring
three runs on three hits and one error. With one out, Hicks
hit her first career homerun and two batters later, Hedler followed
with a solo shot down the right field line. Steinman drove in
Buchanan for the final run of the game with a RBI single to left
field.
Gierke improved to 12-1 with her 10th complete game of
the year, while Hedler, Buchanan and Steinman combined for seven
hits, five runs and three RBI. Hedler finished a triple shy
of the cycle, as she was 3-for-4 with a double and a homerun.
Buchanan added a pair of hits and three runs scored, while Steinman
was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI.
For Rutgers-Newark, Smith was 1-for-1 with a pair of walks and
one run scored, while Rodriguez-Vivas was 1-for-2 with one RBI and
one walk. On the mound, senior right-hander Christine
Sciarra (Lodi, N.J.) suffered the loss as she allowed 10
hits and five earned runs.
GAME TWO: SIX RUN FIFTH INNING LIFTS COUGARS,
8-4 (BOXSCORE)
Junior Katie Hicks hit her second homerun of
the day and sophomore Meg Gierke earned the
victory in relief, as the Cougars rallied past Rutgers-Newark, 8-4,
to win the nightcap.
The Scarlet Raiders built a 4-1 lead with three runs in the
third inning on homeruns by junior Charlotte Abate (North
Plainfield, N.J.) and freshman left-hander Elena
Morge (Cranford, N.J.). After senior third baseman
Jen Raido (Secaucus, N.J.) singled with one out,
Abate hit a two-run shot over the centerfield fence. Morge
helped herself out two batters later with a solo shot to
right-centerfield for the three run lead.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Cougars answered back with
six runs to take the lead, as the first five batters scored and
Hicks hit her second homerun of the afternoon to cap the
rally. Hedler led the inning off with a double and would
score the first run on a bases-loaded wild pitch.
Junior third baseman Kara Schultz followed with a
two-run single to tie the game and Hicks cleared the centerfield
fence with the three-run shot to break the tie and give the Cougars
the 7-4 lead.
Rutgers-Newark threatened in the bottom half of the inning with
the bases loaded with just one out, however Gierke struck out the
final two batters looking to get out of the jam.
On the mound, Gierke scattered five hits and one walk, as she
had nine strikeouts in 4.3 innings of work in relief to improve to
13-1 this season.
Sophomore Jesse Buchanan and Schultz were both
solid at the plate, with Buchanan finishing 2-for-3 with one run
scored and Schultz going 2-for-4 with three RBI and one run scored.
For Rutgers-Newark, Morge and Abate were both 3-for-4, while
Raido was 2-for-2 with two runs scored. On the mound, Morge
dropped below .500 (6-7), as she went the distance with seven
strikeouts.
The Cougars return to action on Thursday, April 12, when they
travel to Centenary College for a non-conference doubleheader at 3
p.m.
