Softball Earns Sweeps Ramapo for
Pivotal NJAC Wins
MAHWAH, N.J. (4/24/09) - Junior Cassie
Shotwell (Dunnelen, N.J.) earned a pair of complete game
victories, as the Kean University softball team swept Ramapo
College (1-0, 5-4) in a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader
on Friday afternoon.
The Cougars (17-17, 8-8 NJAC) scored the game-winning run in the
top of the seventh inning in the opener, and rallied from a 3-0
deficit in the nightcap to earn the sweep over the Roadrunners
(23-9, 9-7 NJAC).
GAME ONE: Shotwell Tosses Four-Hitter in
Opener
Right-hander Cassie Shotwell (pictured right)
allowed just four hits and struck out five batters, and the Cougars
plated the game-winning run in the top of the seventh inning to
come away with the 1-0 victory in the opener.
In the top of the seventh inning, junior centerfielder
Allison Lizzi (Cherry Hill, N.J.) led off the
inning with a single to right field and after moving over to second
base, she would score on a two-out RBI bloop single by rookie
second baseman Alicia Banz (Carteret, N.J.).
Shotwell retired 15 of the first 16 batters she faced en-route
to picking up her seventh shutout of the season.
On the mound for Ramapo, sophomore right-hander Deanna
Giordano (Clifton, N.J.) took the loss, despite allowing just
the two seventh inning hits, while striking out 11 batters.
GAME TWO: Kean Rallies Past Ramapo,
5-4
The Cougars scored three times in the fifth inning and plated
the decisive runs in the sixth inning to rally from a 3-0 deficit,
to take the 5-4 victory in the nightcap.
After scoring a single run in the top of the first inning,
Ramapo extended the lead to 3-0 with a pair of runs in the fifth
inning.
Kean answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth, as
third baseman Melissa Dietrich (Carteret, N.J.)
led off with a single and would later score on a sacrifice fly by
sophomore Lindsay Kennedy (Parsippany, N.J.) to
pull Kean to within 3-1. Juniors Allison
Lizzi and Cassie Shotwell followed with
back-to-back RBI hits, as Shotwell's double to centerfield drove in
Lizzi to tie the game at 3-3.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Roadrunners regained the lead
at 4-3 before the Cougars scored two runs on five hits and one
Ramapo error to push ahead 5-4 for the victory. In the
inning, senior catcher Jesse Buchanan (Washington Twp.,
N.J.) and Kennedy each had singles and would score the
tying and go-ahead runs.
Shotwell improved to 10-8 this season, as she picked up the
complete game victory scattering 10 hits and two walks.
Lizzi finished 2-of-3 with two RBI and one run scored, while
Dietrich(pictured left) added a pair of hits and one run scored.
The Cougars close out the regular season with a NJAC
doubleheader against Rutgers-Newark at Cougar Field on Saturday,
April 25, at 1 p.m.
