Softball Sweeps Opening Day at
Kean's New Cougar Field
UNION, N.J. (4/2/08) - The
Kean University softball team opened play at Cougar Field, sweeping
New Jersey City University (9-4, 7-0) in New Jersey Athletic
Conference action on Wednesday afternoon to win the first ever
games played at Kean's new softball stadium.
The Cougars improved to 16-2, 3-1 NJAC, while NJCU falls to 8-10
overall, 1-3 in the conference.
GAME ONE: Lizzi Helps Lead Cougars in Opener, 9-4 (boxscore)
Sophomore Allison Lizzi (Cherry Hill, N.J.)
went 2-of-3 and drove in five runs to lead Kean University to a 9-4
victory over New Jersey City University in the opener.
The Cougars wasted little time scoring their first runs at
Cougar Field, taking an early 3-0 lead in the first inning.
Senior shortstop Johanna Hedler (South Plainfield,
N.J.) led off with a walk and would score on a RBI
groundout by senior Kara Schultz (Clinton, N.J.)
to score the first run.
After a Gothic Knight error extended the inning and allowed a run
to score, senior catcher Vicki Lanza (Edison,
N.J.) lined a ball off the left field fence to score
senior Katie Hicks (Medford Lakes, N.J.) for the
3-0 lead.
The Gothic Knights got a run back in the top of the second
inning when freshman second baseman Danielle Delfino (Jersey
City, N.J.) had an RBI single to drive in sophomore
Christina Prospero (Secaucus, N.J.), who had doubled
earlier in the inning.
In the top of the third inning, NJCU trimmed the Cougar lead to
one run on a RBI single by Prospero to pull within 3-2.
Kean responded in the fourth inning with two more runs, as Lizzi
(pictured left) drove in both with a single to extend the lead to
5-2.
The Cougars then broke the game open in the fifth inning,
scoring four runs to build a 9-2 lead. With the bases loaded,
Lizzi again delivered the big hit with a bases-clearing double to
drive in a career-high five runs in the game.
NJCU got two runs back in the top of the sixth inning before the
Cougars retired NJCU in order in the seventh inning to win the
opener.
Freshman right-hander Courtney Smyth (Abington,
N.J.) earned her seventh victory (7-1) of the season,
striking out seven batters in the complete game victory. At
the plate, sophomore Allison Thibault (Garfield,
N.J.) added a pair of hits and two runs scored.
For the Gothic Knights, Delfino led the 10-hit attack with a
3-of-4 effort, one run scored and one RBI. Senior shortstop
Susie Matsutani (Gallup, N.M.) added two hits and two RBI,
while sophomore first baseman Lacey Skowronski (Bayonne,
N.J.) and Prospero each had multi-hit games.
GAME TWO: SIX-RUN SEVENTH INNING BREAKS NIGHTCAP
OPEN (boxscore)
Senior right-hander Kristen Hennings (Jackson,
N.J.) allowed just three hits and the Cougars scored six
runs in the top of the seventh inning to sweep New Jersey City
University with the 7-0 shutout in the nightcap. 
The pitchers controlled the game early, as both Hennings
(pictured right) and sophomore Lacey Skowronski allowed
just two hits apiece through the first five innings of play.
The Cougar bats started to come alive in the top of the sixth
inning, as sophomore Allison Lizzi doubled to
right field to drive in junior second baseman Sara Steinman
(Springfield, N.J.), who had also doubled to lead off the
inning, for the 1-0 lead
An inning later, Kean broke the game open,, sending 11 batters
to the plate to score six runs off of seven hits and one Gothic
Knight error.
After senior Katie Hicks led off with a double,
sophomore Allison Thibault laid down a bunt single
and senior Johanna Hedler walked to load the
bases. Junior outfielder Jesse Buchanan (Washington
Twp., N.J.) followed with what appeared to be the first
homerun in stadium history, however a Cougar base running error
resulted in the hit being ruled a single, as Buchanan's three RBI
gave the Cougars the 4-0 lead.
Kean then tacked on three more runs in the inning and closed out
the game in the bottom half of the inning for the seven-run
victory.
On the mound, Hennings improved to 3-1 overall, as she struck
out four and walked non to earn the complete game shutout victory.
Seniors Vicki Lanza and Katie
Hicks and Buchanan each recorded multi-hit games for the
Cougars.
For the Gothic Knights, Skowronski dropped to 4-3 this season
with her five-strikeout effort. At the plate, Freshman
Danielle Delfino recorded the lone multi-hit game
for NJCU, as she was 2-for-3 from her leadoff slot.
Kean returns to action on Saturday, April 5, when they host The
College of New Jersey in a NJAC doubleheader. First pitch is
set for 1 p.m.
