Softball Sweeps William Paterson in NJAC
Doubleheader
UNION, N.J. (4/15/08) -
Freshman right-hander Courtney Smyth (Abington,
Pa.) picked up both victories on the mound in leading the
Kean University softball team to a sweep of William Paterson
University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader at
Cougar Field on Tuesday afternoon.
Senior catcher Vicki Lanza (Edison, N.J.) was a
combined 3-of-4 with three RBI and one homerun to lead the Cougars
(22-6, 9-3 NJAC). For the Pioneers (17-13, 5-7 NJAC),
sophomore Christina Zippler (Blackwood, N.J.) had three
hits on the afternoon.
GAME ONE: Smyth Tosses Three-Hitter in Opener
Rookie right-hander Courtney Smyth (pictured right) allowed just
three hits and no earned runs, going the distance to pick up her
10th win of the season in the opener.
The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning
when senior Vicki Lanza singled through the left
side to drive in junior outfielder Jesse Buchanan
(Washington Twp., N.J.).
Kean tacked two runs in the next inning, as senior shortstop
Johanna Hedler (South Plainfield, N.J.) had an RBI
single and would later score on an error for the 3-0 lead.
The Pioneers got back in the game in the final inning, as
freshman second baseman Lindsey Nadolny (Belford, N.J.)
doubled to right center to lead off the inning. Freshman
right fielder Kelly Lauter (Succasunna, N.J.) followed
with a single to left center and a throwing error allowed pinch
runner Kathleen Wehmann (Harrington Park, N.J.) to score
and moved Nadolny to third base. Junior Ana Abourashed
(Middlesex, N.J.) had a sacrifice fly to score Nadolny and
pull within one run, however the final two Pioneers grounded out to
end the game.
Senior right-hander Diana Schraer (Paramus, N.J.)
allowed just four hits and two earned runs, while striking out
seven batters in the losing effort.
GAME TWO: Four-Run Fourth Propels Kean in
Nightcap
The Kean University softball team broke a 2-2 tie in the
nightcap, scoring four runs with two outs in the fourth-inning
en-route to the 8-2 victory in the nightcap.
With the game tied at 2-2 after three innings of play, the
Cougars loaded the bases after three straight singles by senior
Katie Hicks (Medford Lakes, N.J.) and juniors
Sara Steinman (Springfield, N.J.) and
Nikki Castagno (Staten Island, N.Y.). After
a fielder's choice forced out Hicks at home for the second out,
senior Johanna Hedler singled to left field to
drive in Castagno and Steinman for the 4-2 lead.
Sophomore Allison Thibault (Garfield, N.J.) and
Hedler (pictured left) would then score later in the inning on a
passed ball and throwing error for the four-run advantage.
The Cougars added a single run in the fifth inning on a
sacrifice fly by senior Vicki Lanza, and Lanza hit
her third homerun in as many games in the seventh inning to extend
the lead to 8-2.
Kean took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a RBI double by
sophomore centerfielder Allison Lizzi (Cherry Hill,
N.J.) and RBI groundout by Kara Schultz (Clinton,
N.J.), before the Pioneers tied the game with single runs
in the second and third inning. Freshman Rayna Caruso
(Madison, N.J.) had an RBI single in the second inning, and
rookie Lindsey Nadolny homered to straight-away
centerfield the following inning to tie the game.
Lizzi finished 2-of-3 with one RBI and two runs scored, while
Lanza added a pair of hits, two RBI and one run scored. On
the mound, rookie Courtney Smyth earned the
victory in relief, allowing just five hits and one earned run to
improve to 11-2 this season.
At the plate for the Pioneers, sophomore Christina
Zippler had the lone multi-hit game, finishing 2-of-3.
Kean returns to action on Thursday, April 17, hosting DeSales
University in a non-conference doubleheader at 3 p.m.
