Softball Splits Home Opener with
Oneonta State
UNION, N.J. (3/23/09) - The Kean University
softball team split with Oneonta State in the home opener on Monday
afternoon, defeating the Red Dragons, 6-5, in the opener, before
falling 7-1 in the afternoon's second game.
GAME ONE: Five-Run Sixth Lifts Kean Past Oneonta,
6-5
The Cougars plated five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning
to erase a 5-1 deficit and win the opener, 6-5.
Senior catcher Jesse Buchanan (Washington Twp.,
N.J.) was 2-of-3 with two runs scored and two RBI to lead
the Cougars, while sophomore Jess Mattos (Carteret,
N.J.) earned her second win on the mound in relief.
Trailing 5-1 after the top of the sixth inning, sophomore
left-fielder Lindsay Kennedy (Parsippany, N.J.)
and rookie second baseman Alicia Banz (Carteret,
N.J.) led off the inning with back-to-back singles and
Mattos reach on an error that would allow Kennedy to score.
Junior third baseman Melissa Dietrich (Carteret,
N.J.) followed with a walk to load the bases, and after a
fielder's choice denied the Cougars a run with Banz being thrown
out at home, Buchanan lined a double down the left-field line to
drive in a pair of runs. With runners on second and third,
the Cougars tied the game on the squeeze bunt and Buchanan would
score the go-ahead run one batter later on a sacrifice fly by
senior shortstop Sara Steinman (Springfield,
N.J.).
The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when
junior centerfielder Allison Lizzi (Cherry hill,
N.J.) had an RBI single to drive in Buchanan, who led the
inning off with a single.
In the top of the fifth inning, sophomore shortstop Bethany
Truax (South Glens Falls, N.Y.) and junior Savanah Keicher
(Lindenhurst, N.Y.) each had bases-loaded RBI singles and
freshman Lyndsey Berwich (New Windsor, N.Y.) had a
bases-loaded walk to take a 3-1 lead.
Oneonta State extended the lead to 5-1 in the top of the sixth
inning, taking advantage of one hit and three Cougar errors.
Mattos (pictured left) earned the victory in relief, scattering
three hits and allowing no earned runs in two and two-thirds
innings of work.
Kennedy added a pair of hits, while Dietrich was 1-for-1 with
one run scored.
For Oneonta State, sophomore Stacey Donald (Saugerties,
N.Y.) was 2-of-2 with one run scored.
GAME TWO: Oneonta State Powers Past Kean,
7-1
Sophomore Stacy Donald had three hits and scored twice
to lead the 13-hit Oneonta State (6-4) attack and defeat the
Cougars, 7-1, in the nightcap to earn the split.
The Red Dragons got on the board in the first inning, scoring
three runs on three hits and one Cougar error. After a Cougar
error loaded the bases with one out, junior Savanah
Keicher had an RBI single to drive in Donald, who had singled
to left field earlier in the inning. A bases-loaded walk to
sophomore Kristin Jung (Chester, N.Y.) scored the second
run and a wild pitch allowed the Red Dragons to build a 3-0 lead.
After Oneonta added another unearned run in the second inning,
the Cougars (8-8) trimmed 
the deficit to 4-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning on a RBI
double to left field by rookie Alicia Banz scored
junior Allison Lizzi, who reached on a single
through the left side.
Oneonta tacked on two more runs in the fifth and scored once in
the sixth for the 7-1 victory.
For the Cougars, senior Jesse Buchanan
(pictured right) had her team-leading third triple of the year.
In the win, senior Jamie Llewellyn (Oneonta, N.Y.) and
freshman Lyndsey Berwick each had two hits, while Jung was
1-of-2 with two RBI.
The Cougars open New Jersey Athletic Conference action on
Saturday, March 28, when they travel to Rutgers-Camden for a
doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
