Smyth, Dietrich Lead Softball Past
NJCU
UNION, N.J. (4/20/10) – Senior second
baseman Melissa Dietrich was a combined 4-of-7
with seven RBI and right-handers Courtney Smyth
and Cassie Shotwell each earned complete game
victories to lead the Kean University softball team to a New Jersey
Athletic Conference doubleheader sweep of New Jersey City
University on Tuesday afternoon.
Smyth (pictured right) allowed just one hit in the 9-0,
five-inning win for the Cougars (21-11, 6-6 NJAC) in the opener,
while Dietrich drove in three runs in the 7-2 nightcap win over
NJCU (14-16, 1-11 NJAC).
GAME ONE: Smyth Tosses One-Hit, Five-Inning
Shutout in Opener
Junior right-hander Courtney Smyth was just one
out away from the five-inning no-hitter, as she struck out six
batters in the 9-0 shutout in the opener.
Smyth, who had a perfect game through the first three innings,
allowed just a two-out single up the middle by junior Jordan
Potter in the top of the fifth inning.
The Cougars took the early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first
inning when junior designated player Katie Yard
had a one-out double down the right-field line to drive in rookie
left fielder Katie Schuh and senior right fielder
Allison Lizzi.
Two innings later, Kean broke open the game with four runs on four
hits and one NJCU error, as sophomore shortstop Alicia
Banz had a RBI double, and senior Melissa
Dietrich and junior Lindsay Kennedy each
had RBI singles in the inning.
The bottom of the fourth inning saw the Cougars tack on three
more runs, with freshman third baseman Courtney
Melchionna driving in two runs with a double to
centerfield and Dietrich following two batters later with the
run-scoring double to left field to drive in
Melchionna.
In the opener, eight different Cougars recorded hits, with
senior first baseman Cassie Shotwell leading the
way at 3-of-3 with three runs scored. Dietrich finished
2-of-3 with two RBI, while freshman catcher Gabi
Ciacciarelli (pictured left) scored twice after going
1-of-2.
GAME TWO: Kean Pulls Away for 7-2 Win in
Nightcap
Freshman Katie Schuh was 3-of-4 with two runs
scored, while senior Melissa Dietrich drove in
three, while going 2-of-4 at the plate.
The Cougars scored in four different innings, including a
three-run seventh to pull away from the Gothic Knights.
NJCU took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a
run-scoring single by senior pitcher Tara Perrucci, as she
drove in junior Stephanie Gomez, who walked earlier in the
inning.
The lead was short-lived however, as the Cougars answered right
back in the top of the second inning when Dietrich drove in Schuh
and rookie Courtney Melchionna with a double to
left field.
The Cougars added single runs in the third and fifth innings to
extend the lead to 4-1, before NJCU trimmed the lead to two runs in
the bottom of the sixth inning when junior Taylor Lang
singled, advanced to third on an error that kept the inning alive
and would score on a passed ball.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Cougars broke the game open
with three runs, as Melchionna had a sacrifice fly, sophomore
Alicia Banz had a RBI double and Dietrich followed
with the run-scoring single down the left-field line to drive in
Banz.
On the mound, senior Cassie Shotwell (12-5)
scattered 11 hits and allowed just one earned run and one walk,
while striking out five in the win.
Banz and senior designated player Allison
Thibault each added two hits, while junior first baseman
Katie Yard (pictured right) was 1-of-3 with a RBI
double.
Perrucci and freshman Rebecca Satz were each 2-of-4 for
the Gothic Knights.
The Cougars return to action on Saturday, April 24, when they
travel to Montclair State University for a NJAC doubleheader.
