Softball Falls to #9 MSU in NJAC
Doubleheader
LITTLE FALLS, N.J. (4/19/08) - The Kean
University softball team dropped a New Jersey Athletic Conference
doubleheader to ninth-ranked Montclair State University on Saturday
afternoon.
The Red Hawks (32-2, 14-0) stretched its winning streak to 25
games with the 3-0 victory in the opener and the 5-2 win in the
nightcap over the Cougars (24-8, 9-5 NJAC).
Senior shortstop Johanna Hedler (South Plainfield,
N.J.) was 2-of-3 and drove in both runs in the nightcap.
GAME ONE: McCrea Tosses Two-Hit Shutout For Red
Hawks
Senior right-hander Carolyn McCrea (Wharton, N.J.)
tossed a two-hit complete game shutout and struck out 10 Cougars
in the opener to improve to 17-2 this season.
The Red Haws took the early lead in the bottom of the first
inning, as designated player Kelly Karp (Edison, N.J.)
drew a bases-loaded walk to force home the first run of the
game.
MSU added the insurance runs in the third inning when
Whitney Driver (Montville, N>J.) and 
Leslie Gonzalez (North Bergen, N.J.) each had RBI singles
for the 3-0 edge.
For the Cougars, senior third baseman Kara Schultz
(Clinton, N.J.) (pictured right) and junior right fielder
Nikki Castagno (Staten Island, N.Y.) each recorded
a hit for Kean. On the mound, freshman Courtney Smyth
(Abington, Pa.) pitched the complete game, allowing nine
hits and three earned runs in falling to 12-3 this season.
GAME TWO: Kean Falls Behind Early in 5-2
Loss
Montclair State again scored early runs, building a 3-0 lead in
the top of the first inning on four hits and two walks.
Kelly Karp singled in the first run before first baseman
Kelly Nance (Marlboro, N.J.) and right-fielder Whitney
Driver added a bases-loaded walk and RBI single, respectively.
In the top of the second inning, MSU extended the lead to 4-0 on
a RBI single by Megan Durkin (West Orange, N.J.), before
the Cougars cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the inning.
With two outs in the bottom of the second, junior right fielder
Nikki Castagno and sophomore designated player
Allison Thibault (Garfield, N.J.) had back-to-back
singles before senior shortstop Johanna Hedler
drove both in with a single to pull within 4-2.
The Red Hawks added an insurance run in the fifth inning to
extend the lead out to 5-2.
For the Cougars, Hedler (pictured left) finished 2-of-3 with two
RBI, while Castagno added her second hit of the afternoon going
1-of-2 in the nightcap with one run scored.
Senior right-hander Kristen Hennings (Jackson,
N.J.) went the distance in the losing effort, as she fell
to 4-4 this season.
The trio of Karp, Elia Persico (Marlton, N.J.) and
Carolyn McCrea combined on the victory, as Karp improved
to13-0 with the victory. McCrea earned her fifth save of the
year in relief.
The Cougars face St. Joseph's College (Patchogue) in
non-conference action on Sunday, April 20, at 1:00 p.m.
