Softball Splits on Opening Day
SALISBURY, Md. (3/13/09) - Senior Nikki Castagno
(Staten Island, N.Y.) (pictured right) had a bunt single
to first base to drive in the game-winning run in the eighth
inning, as the Kean University softball team opened the season with
a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over 25th-ranked Moravian
College on Friday morning.
The Cougars (1-1) fell in the nightcap to Virginia Wesleyan
College, 9-0, to wrap up their first day of competition of the 2009
season at the Sea Gull Tournament hosted by Salisbury University.
Trailing 1-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning
against Moravian (8-5), the Cougars took advantage of two errors
and one hit to plate the tying run to force extra innings.
After junior Allison Lizzi (Cherry Hill, N.J.)
reached on a one-out error by the centerfielder, junior first
baseman Cassie Shotwell (Dunellen, N.J.) drove in
Lizzi with a single through the left side to tie the game and force
extra innings.
The Cougars retired the Greyhounds in the top of the eighth inning
and junior Melissa Dietrich (Carteret, N.J.)
started the bottom half of the inning on second due to the
international tiebreaker rules. Junior designated player
Allison Thibault (Garfield, N.J.) moved Dietrich
over to third base with a bunt single and Castagno followed with a
bunt single of her own to drive in Dietrich for the season-opening
victory.
On the mound, sophomore Courtney Smyth (Abington,
Pa.) (pictured left) went the distance, scattering seven
hits and allowing just one earned run and no walks, with one
strikeout.
The Cougars return to action on Saturday, March 14, when they
take on SUNY Geneseo and host Salisbury University.
