UNION, N.J. (4/15/11) – The Kean University softball team swept a key New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader from host Ramapo College on Friday afternoon, as rookie Megan Cegielski combined to go 4-of-6 with three runs scored and one RBI in the sweep.
The Cougars (9-15, 7-1 NJAC) earned the 6-5 win in the opener and closed out the sweep with a 7-2 win in the nightcap over the Roadrunners (18-6, 4-4 NJAC).
GAME ONE: Smyth Earns Complete Game Victory
Senior right-hander Courtney Smyth scattered six hits and five strikeouts, while allowing just two earned runs as the Cougars held on for the 6-5 win in the opener.
Trailing 1-0 after the first inning, the Cougars plated three runs in the top of the third inning on two hits and two Ramapo errors, as senior centerfielder Lindsay Kennedy and sophomore second baseman Katie Schuh singled and walked and would later scored on an error following the single by rookie Sandra Binkiewicz. Binkiewicz would score the final run of the inning when another Ramapo error extended the inning.
Ramapo would tie the game in the bottom of the third inning on a RBI single by first baseman Janet Brown, before the Cougars took the lead for good with three runs in the top of the fourth inning.
Cegielski (pictured left) singled in the go-ahead run, before she and junior shortstop Alicia Banz added the crucial insurance runs following an error by the Roadrunners.
Ramapo trimmed the Kean lead to one run on a two-run homerun by centerfielder Danielle Rothenberger, however Smyth closed out the complete game win for the Cougars by limiting the Roadrunners to just one hit and one walk over the final two innings.
Cegielski was 2-of-3 with one run scored and one RBI.
GAME TWO: Sacco Earns First Career Victory in 7-2 Win
Sophomore Samantha Sacco (pictured right) won her first career start, as the Cougars broke the game open with a grand slam by Banz in the bottom of the sixth inning for the 7-2 win.
Sacco scattered five hits and five walks, as she allowed just two earned runs in five and a third innings of work.
The Cougars took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when pinch runner Kelsey Hannan and Cegielski scored when Banz reach on an error. Kean extended the lead to 3-0 on a RBIs single by senior catcher Nicole Scarillo.
Ramapo pulled to within 3-2 in the top of the fifth inning when left fielder Caitlin Smith was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and shortstop Tiffany Fischer followed with an RBI single to shortstop, before the Cougars got out of the bases loaded jam to keep the one-run lead.
In the bottom half of the sixth inning, the Cougars had three straight singles to load the bases before Banz broke the game open with the grand slam to left-center.
Smyth, who came on in relief in the sixth inning, recorded the one-two-three inning in the top of the seventh to seal the sweep.
Banz was 2-of-4 with two runs scored and four RBI and Cegielski added two hits and two runs scored.
Smyth recorded the final five outs to earn the save.
