EWING, N.J. (4/17/11) – The Kean University softball team dropped a pair of games to host The College of New Jersey in a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader on Sunday afternoon.  The Lions won the opener, 4-2, before withstanding a Kean rally in the nightcap, 5-4. 

GAME ONE:  Lions Break Tie with Two-Run Third Inning

Rookie Kelly Moorehead was 2-of-4 with one run scored and one RBI, however Lions (20-8, 6-4 NJAC) broke a 2-2 tie with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning behind a complete game win from junior Lauren Fitzsimmons. 

The host Lions took the early lead in the bottom of the first inning as senior Colleen Cawley ripped a two-out double into the gap in left field to drive in Crystal Lee and Kelly Hommen for the 2-0 advantage. 

Kean (9-17, 7-3 NJAC) trimmed the lead in half in the second inning when Moorehead (pictured left) scored on the infield single from rookie Megan Cegielski.  Moorehead would then tie the game an inning later when she triple down the left field line to score senior catcher Nicole Scarillo. 

The Lions regained the lead for good in the bottom of the inning, as sophomore Liz Huttner drove in the first run with a single through the left side and added the insurance run when she scored from first base on a double by Katelyn Congilose. 

Fitzsimmons scattered seven hits with three strikeouts in the win, while Cawley had two hits and two RBI. 

Senior right-hander Courtney Smyth allowed nine hits and no walks for the Cougars.  At the plate, sophomore Katie Schuh added a pair of hits. 

GAME TWO: Seventh Inning Rally Falls Short as Lions Hang On, 5-4

The Cougars scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and had the go-ahead runs on base, however the Lions were able to record the final two outs to secure the 5-4 win in the nightcap. 

Trailing 2-0, the Cougar tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning with an RBI single from third baseman Courtney Melchionna (pictured right) and a pinch hit double from Scarillo. 

However, the Lions answered with three runs in the top of the fifth to push the lead to 5-2 following the bases-loaded triple by Lee. 

The Cougars pulled to within one run in the bottom of the seventh on back-to-back RBI singles by rookie Sandra Binkiewicz and Moorehead, however the Cougars stranded the tying and go-ahead runs on base as freshman reliever Austin Leigh recorded the final two outs for the save. 

Moorhead and Melchionna each had two hits, one run scored and one RBI for the Cougars.