Shotwell, Smyth Pitch Kean to NJAC
Sweep of Richard Stockton
POMONA, N.J. (4/10/10) – The Kean
University softball team swept a New Jersey Athletic Conference
double-header from host Richard Stockton College on Saturday
afternoon. The Cougars (13-7, 3-3 NJAC) rallied for a 3-1 win
in the opener, while handing the Ospreys (13-7, 3-3 NJAC) a 4-1
setback in the nightcap.
GAME ONE: Cougars Rally in Seventh Inning for 3-1
Win
The Cougars took advantage of an Osprey error and a pair of
bases-loaded walks to rally for the 3-1 win in the opener.
Trailing 1-0, senior right fielder Allison
Lizzi led off with a single and would advance to third one
batter later when senior first baseman Cassie
Shotwell reached on an error on her sacrifice bunt.
The Ospreys were able to retire the next two Cougar batters, before
senior designated player Allison Thibault singled
to drive in Lizzi with the game-tying run and advance freshman
Kelsey Hannan, who pinch-ran for Shotwell, to
third base.
Senior second baseman Melissa Dietrich walked to
load the bases, and freshman left fielder Katie
Schuh and junior centerfielder Lindsay
Kennedy followed with bases loaded walks to score Hannon
with the go-ahead run and Thibault with the insurance run,
respectively.
Richard Stockton capitalized on back-to-back doubles in the
bottom of the third inning to take the 1-0 lead. Sophomore
shortstop Joey Afflito led off the inning with a double
and scored when senior catcher Brooke Shetter followed
with the RBI double for the early lead.
Junior Courtney Smyth went the distance for the
Cougars, scattering six hits with three strikeouts to improve to
6-4 overall.
At the plate, rookie pinch hitter Colleen
Leschinski (pictured right) , Kennedy, Lizzi and
Thibault each had a hit, while Thibault also had one run scored and
one RBI.
GAME TWO: Cougars Earns Sweep With 4-1
Win
Senior right-hander Cassie Shotwell allowed
just two hits and the Cougars broke open a 1-0 game with three runs
in the fourth inning to earn the doubleheader sweep over Richard
Stockton College.
The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on
a RBI single by junior Lindsay Kennedy, as rookie
third baseman Courtney Melchionna came around to
score after leading off the inning with a walk.
An inning later, the Cougars took advantage of three hits and
two Osprey errors to plate three more runs. A pair of errors
allowed the 
Cougars to load the bases with one out and senior Allison
Thibault had an RBI single to drive in freshman Kelsey
Hannon, who pinch-ran for Shotwell after singling earlier in the
inning. One batter later, senior second baseman
Melissa Dietrich had a RBI bunt single to score
freshman pinch runner Sam Gniazdowski and rookie
Katie Schuh followed with a sacrifice fly to give
the Cougars the 4-0 lead.
The Ospreys were able to get an unearned run across in the top
of the sixth inning.
Shotwell struck out six batters and allowed no earned runs to
improve to 7-3 this season.
At the plate, Thibault (pictured left) and Dietrich were each
2-of-3 with one RBI, while Melchionna was 1-of-2 with two runs
scored.
The Cougars travel to Oneonta State on Sunday, April 11, for a
non-conference doubleheader.
