Cougars Split with Richard Stockton in NJAC
Action
HILLSIDE, N.J. (4/24/07) - The Kean University
softball team scored a pair of unearned runs in the top of the
fifth inning against Richard Stockton College to break a 1-1 tie in
the nightcap of a New Jersey Athletic Conference softball
doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon. In the opener, the Ospreys
(22-12, 7-9 NJAC) handed the Cougars (21-11, 8-8) a 4-2 loss.
GAME ONE: Three-Run Second Inning Lifts Ospreys,
4-2 BOXSCORE
Richard Stockton capitalized on a Cougar error in the top of the
second inning to score three runs en-route to the 4-2 victory in
the opener.
With runners on first and second with two outs, sophomore right
fielder Lindsay Connell (Rahway, N.J.) reached on
an error in the outfield that resulted in the Ospreys plating their
first two runs of the game. Senior centerfielder Ashlei
Fabrizio (Atco, N.J.) followed with an infield single to
score Connell from second base.
The Cougars threatened in the bottom half of the inning with
runners on second and third with one out, however sophomore pitcher
Jessica Ricciuti (Toms River, N.J.) forced
back-to-back groundouts to get out of the jam without surrendering
a run.
In the top of the fourth, the Ospreys tacked on the insurance
run on a leadoff homerun by senior Jessica Williams
(Bayville, N.J.) for the 4-0 advantage.
The Cougars got on the board in the bottom of the fifth, as a pair
of runs crossed the plate on a bases loaded error on a short
flyball off the bat of sophomore Sara Steinman
(Springfield, N.J.). Left-fielder Jesse
Buchanan (Washington Twp., N.J.), who had reached earlier
on an infield single, was thrown out at the plate on the play on
the throw from shortstop Samantha Horner (Newfield,
N.J.), as she tried to score the third run of the inning.
Ricciuti improved to 6-5 for the Ospreys, earning the complete
game victory after allowing just five hits and no earned runs with
four strikeouts. At the plate, Fabrizio went 2-for-3.
On the mound for Kean, sophomore right-hander Meg Gierke
(Glen Gardner, N.J.) scattered five hits and had seven
strikeouts, as she allowed just one earned run in falling to 15-5.
For the Cougars, junior shortstop Johanna Hedler (South
Plainfield, N.J.) had a pair of extra base hits, as she
finished with a double, triple, walk and run scored.
GAME TWO: Hennings, Steinman Lift Kean,
3-1 BOXSCORE
Sophomore second baseman Sara Steinman drove in
a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning to break a 1-1 tie in
the 3-1 victory over the Ospreys.
The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, as junior first
baseman Katie Hicks (Medford Lakes, N.J.) scored
on a RBI single by junior catcher Vicki Lanza (Edison,
N.J.).
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Richard Stockton tied the
game on a leadoff homerun by senior first baseman Melissa
Kerr (Laurel Springs, N.J.).
The Cougars responded in the next half-inning, as Steinman had a
two-out double off the centerfield fence to score both freshman
right-fielder Allison Lizzi (Cherry Hill, N.J.)
and Lanza the 3-1 edge.
On the mound, junior right-hander Kristen Hennings
(Jackson, N.J.) struck out eight batters and scattered
seven hits in improving to 5-5 this season.
At the plate, Buchanan, Hicks and Steinman each went 2-for-4 on
the afternoon.
Freshman pitcher Kaitlyn Corica (Iselin, N.J.)
took the loss for the Ospreys, as she surrendered three runs (one
earned), seven hits and three walks in 4.2 innings of work.
Sophomore shortstop Samantha Horner and
sophomore Lindsay Connell each went 2-for-3 in the
game for Richard Stockton.
The Cougars host College of Staten Island in non-conference
action on Friday, April 27, at 3 p.m.
