Softball Splits with Rutgers-Camden
in NJAC Opener
CAMDEN, N.J. (3/28/09) – The Kean University softball
team opened up New Jersey Athletic Conference action, splitting a
doubleheader at Rutgers University-Camden on Saturday
afternoon. The
Cougars (9-9, 1-1 NJAC) won the first game, 3-0, before the Scarlet
Raptors (11-5, 1-1 NJAC) captured the nightcap with the 9-1
five-inning nightcap.
GAME ONE: Shotwell Tosses Three-Hit
Shutout in Opener
Junior right-hander Cassie Shotwell
(Dunellen, N.J.) hurled
a three-hit shutout and senior Sara Steinman
(Springfield, N.J.) broke the career homerun record with a
fourth-inning leadoff homerun.
Kean collected the only run she needed in the
third inning on a RBI single by senior catcher Jesse
Buchanan (Washington Twp., N.J.). After junior third
baseman Melissa Dietrich (Carteret, N.J.)
had a one-out infield single,
she advanced to
second on a sacrifice by junior designated player
Allison Thibault (Garfield, N.J.). Dietrich would then score on a single to
center by Buchanan for the 1-0 lead.
In the next inning, Steinman (pictured
right) 
extended the lead to 2-0 when she drilled her 13th career homerun,
a solo shot to centerfield, to break the mark of 12 held by
Michelle Baiera (2003-06)
Freshman Alicia Banz (Carteret,
N.J.) would score an
insurance run later in the fourth inning, as the Cougars took
advantage of a Rutgers-Camden error.
Shotwell walked just two and struck out three
batters as she earned her third complete game shutout of the
season.
Banz finished 2-of-3 for Kean, while junior
first baseman Amanda D'Anduono (Lanoka Harbor, N.J.)
had two hits for the Scarlet
Raptors.
GAME TWO: Five-Run First Inning
Propels Scarlet Raptors, 9-1
Rutgers-Camden scored five runs in the first
inning in the nightcap en-route to earning the split with the 9-1,
five inning victory.
The Scarlet Raptors collected five hits in the
opening inning, including a run-scoring triple by freshman
designated player Beth Speakman (Sicklerville, N.J.) and two-run homers from both freshman
catcher Erika Drayton (Blackwood, N.J.) and Amanda
D'Anduono.
Speakman tacked on a two-run homer in the
Raptors' three-run second inning.
Junior Ashley Jimenez (Bellmawr,
N.J.) was the beneficiary of
all the offensive support, hurling a five-inning complete game
while allowing four hits, two walks and one earned run. She struck
out four.
At the plate for Kean, senior Sara
Steinman was 1-of-3
with one RBI, while senior Jesse
Buchanan (pictured
left) was 1-of-3 with one
run scored.
Sophomore reliever Jess Mattos (Carteret,
N.J.) was 1-of-1 at the
plate.
The Cougars are slated to take on DeSales
University in a non-conference doubleheader in Center Valley, Pa.,
on Sunday , March 29, at 1 p.m.
