Softball Sweeps Rutgers-Newark in
NJAC Action
NEWARK, N.J. (4/8/08)
- Senior third baseman Kara Schultz (Clinton,
N.J.) hit a three-run homerun to lift the Kean University
softball team to a sweep of Rutgers-Newark (5-0, 3-1) in a
New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader on Tuesday
afternoon.
Freshmen Courtney Smyth (Abington, Pa.) and
Jess Mattos (Carteret, N.J.) earned complete game
victories for the Cougars (18-4, 5-3 NJAC).
GAME ONE: Smyth Earns Eighth Victory of the
Season (boxscore)
Freshman Courtney Smyth tied her career high
with nine strikeouts and held Rutgers-Newark (3-23, 0-8 NJAC) to
just four hits, as Kean defeated the Scarlet Raiders, 5-0, in the
opener.
The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, when sophomore
centerfielder Allison Lizzi (Cherry Hill, N.J.)
led off the inning with a single and would eventually score on a
sacrifice fly by senior first baseman Katie Hicks (Medford
Lakes, N.J.).
Kean took advantage of lead-off doubles in both the sixth and
seventh innings by Lizzi and senior shortstop Johanna
Hedler (South Plainfield, N.J.), respectively, to tack on
a pair of runs in each inning for the 5-0 edge.
Lizzi (pictured left) finished 3-of-4 with one RBI and one run
scored, Hicks drove in a team-high two runs. Hedler and
junior Sara Steinman (Springfield, N.J.) each went
2-of-4 with one run scored, as Steinman also added a RBI.
On the mound, Smyth improved to 8-2 with the complete game
victory.
GAME TWO: Schultz Homerun Lifts Kean to 3-1
Victory (boxscore)
Senior Kara Schultz broke a scoreless tie in
the third inning, sending a three-run shot over the
left-centerfield fence to lead the Cougars to the 3-1 victory in
the nightcap to earn the sweep.
In the third inning, junior Jesse Buchanan (Washington
Twp., N.J.) singled to lead off the inning and sophomore
Allison Lizzi walked, before Schultz hit her first
homerun of the season for the 3-0 lead.
Rutgers-Newark got a run back in the top of the sixth inning
when senior second baseman Shauna Gallagher (Rockaway,
N.J.) scored on a sacrifice fly to pull within two runs.
Freshman Jess Mattos (pictured right) improved to
4-0 this season, allowing just one earned run striking out six
Scarlet Raiders.
Rutgers-Newark senior Jess Murray (Union Beach, N.J.)
was the hard luck loser, limiting the Cougar bats to just three
hits.
The Cougars take on Lebanon Valley College in anon-conference
doubleheader on Thursday, April 10 (3 p.m.) in Annville, Pa.
