MADISON, N.J. (4/15/12) – The Kean
University softball team earned a non-conference doubleheader split
with FDU-Florham on Sunday afternoon, falling to the host Devils,
3-2, in the eight-inning opener, before posting the 7-3 win in the
nightcap to earn the split.
GAME ONE: Cougars Fall in Extra Innings,
3-2
The Devils scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth
inning to earn the walk-off win, 3-2, in the opener.
FDU-Florham took a 1-0 lead in the opening inning, as first
baseman Elizabeth Spiller worked a two-out walk, advanced
to second on a passed ball and scored on the RBI single up the
middle by pitcher Megan McInaw.
The Cougars tied the game in the fifth inning, when right fielder
Megan Cegielski led off with a single through the
left side and moved over to second base on the sacrifice bunt by
freshman centerfielder Maria Scopellito. Two
batters later, second baseman Katie Schuh doubled
to right-center to drive in Cegielski with the tying run.
The score remained that way until extra innings, when Kean was
able to took a 2-1 lead in the top of the eighth inning after Schuh
opened the inning on second base due to the international
tiebreaking rules and scored on the one-out double by junior
Courtney Melchionna.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Devils loaded the bases
with no outs following a hit batter and infield single, setting up
the game-winning, two-run single up the middle by Spiller.
Scopellito (pictured left) finished 2-of-2 , while Melchionna
was 2-of-3 with one RBI and Cegielski was 2-of-3 with one run
scored.
Rookie right-hander Courtney Yard (14-6) struck
out seven and allowed just one walk and one earned run, while
scattering seven hits in the complete game defeat.
McInaw picked up the complete game victory, also recording seven
strikeouts and scattering nine hits. At the plate, she
finished 2-of-3 with one RBI.
GAME TWO: Six-Run Fourth Inning Powers Cougars to
7-3 Victory
Designated player Courtney Yard finished 3-of-4
with three RBI and two runs scored and blasted her first career
homerun to lead the Cougars to the 7-3 win in the 13-hit
attack. Reliever Rebecca Rotola (pictured
left) allowed just two hits in the final 5.2 innings of work to
pick up the victory.
After the Devils (13-13) took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first
inning, the Cougars (19-11) exploded for six runs in the fourth
inning, highlighted by Yard's three-run homer.
In the inning, left fielder Sandra Binkiewicz
led off with a double to left-center and first baseman
Kelly Moorehead, setting up the three-run blast to
left-center for Yard to tie game.
After catcher Jill Martin had a one-out single
and rookie Maria Scopellito and sophomore
Megan Cegielski each walked to load the
bases. Junior Katie Schuh had the RBI
infield single to score Martin with the go-ahead run and junior
Courtney Melchionna followed with the two-run
single up the middle for the 6-3 lead.
The Cougars tacked on the insurance run an inning later, as Yard
led off with her second double of the day and scored on the RBI
single by Scopellito.
Melchionna finished with two hits and two RBI, while Scopellio
added two hits, one RBI and one run scored.
Rotola (3-2) had three strikeouts and allowed just one walk.
The Cougars face host Montclair State University in a New Jersey
Athletic Conference doubleheader on Tuesday, April 17 at 3 p.m.
