Softball Blanks NJCU, 8-0

UNION, N.J. (4/16/09) - Junior Cassie Shotwell (Dunellen, N.J.) earned a five-inning, complete game victory, allowing just three hits, and drove in a pair of runs at the plate to help lead the Kean University softball team to an 8-0 victory over visiting New Jersey City University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game on Thursday afternoon.

The Cougars (14-16, 5-7 NJAC) pounded out 10 hits in the game, which was the second game of Tuesday afternoon's doubleheader that was postponed due to rain.  Sophomore second baseman Danielle Delfino (Jersey City, N.J.) was 2-of-2 for the Gothic Knights (14-16, 4-8 NJAC). 

After a scoreless first inning, Kean plated five runs in the top of the second inning.  Junior centerfielder Allison Lizzi (Cherry Hill, N.J.) opened the inning being hit by pitch and would advance to third on a pair of fielder's choice sacrifice bunts by junior third baseman Melissa Dietrich (Carteret, N.J.) and sophomore first baseman Katie Yard (Hillsborough, N.J.) to load the bases with no outs. 

Shotwell (pictured right) followed with a single into left field to score Lizzi and Dietrich with the first runs of the game and later in the inning with two outs, senior catcher Jesse Buchanan (Washington Twp., N.J.) smacked a double off the left field fence to drive in two more runs.  Buchanan scored the final run of the inning on a RBI single by left fielder Lindsay Kennedy (Parsippany, N.J.) to give the Cougars the 5-0 lead.

The Cougars tacked on two more runs in the third inning, as Yard had a RBI double to score Lizzi, who led the inning off with a single, and junior designated player Allison Thibault (Garfield, N.J.) beat out a two-out, infield single to drive in Yard for the 7-0 advantage.

In the fifth inning, the Cougars scored the final run of the game on a sacrifice fly by Kennedy, as she brough in senior pinch runner Christy Giamella (Bound Brook, N.J.) (pictured left).

On the mound, Shotwell (7-8) allowed just one walk and three hits to earn her fifth shutout of the season.  At the plate, Shotwell finished 2-of-3 with two RBI and one run scored, while Lizzi was 2-od-2 with two runs scored.  Thibault also recorded the multi-hit game, finishing 2-of-3 with one RBI, while Buchanan and Kennedy were each 1-of-3 with two RBI. 

Freshman shortstop Megan Ginter (Nutley, N.J.) was 1-of-2 for the Gothic Knights.

The Cougars return to action on Saturday, April 18, when they host Montclair State University in a key NJAC doubleheader.  First pitch is set for Noon.