UNION, N.J. (4/19/12) – Freshman
right-hander Ashlee Gieger became just the second
player in school history to toss a seven-inning no-hitter, as she
helped lead the Cougars to a doubleheader sweep of St.
Joseph's College (L.I.) in non-conference action on Thursday
afternoon.
The Cougars (21-13) eclipsed the 20-win mark with an 11-1,
five-inning win in the opener over the Golden Eagles
(17-15).
GAME ONE: Cougar Bats, Yard Cruise Past St.
Joseph's, 11-1
The Cougars had 14 hits and scored in each bottom half of the
inning en-route to the 11-1, five-inning victory over the Golden
Eagles in the opener.
Sophomore left fielder Sandra Binkiewicz was
2-of-3 with four RBI and one run scored and rookie Courtney
Yard scattered five hits with four strikeouts in the
complete-game win.
The Cougars took a 2-0, as senior shortstop Alicia
Banz scored on an error and Binkiewicz added the
bases-loaded RBI fielder's choice for the early lead.
An inning later, the Cougars tacked on four more runs to break
open the game, as juniors Katie Schuh and
Courtney Melchionna each had RBI singles and
Binkiewicz (pictured left) closed out the inning with a two-run
double for the 6-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third inning, Yard helped herself out
leading with a double and scoring two batters later on the RBI
single by catcher Jill Martin. The Cougars
eventually loaded the bases for centerfielder Maria
Scopellito, who had a two-run single up the middle to give
Kean the 9-0 lead.
St. Joseph's got on the board in the top of the fourth
inning with three straight singles, as pitcher Julia De
Carmine led off with a single and designated player Nicole
Reda had the RBI single two batters later to pull the Golden
Eagles to within 9-1.
The Cougars tacked on their final two runs in the bottom of the
fourth, as Binkiewicz had a RBI double and would later score on the
sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Colleen
Leschinski.
Melchionna finished 3-of-3 with two runs scored and one RBI,
while Binkiewicz, Yard and Banz each added two hits.
Yard (15-8) allowed just one run and no walks in her 20th
complete game of the season.
GAME TWO: Gieger No-Hitter Leads Cougars to
3-0 Win
It was exactly 24 years ago when Kean last saw a seven-inning
no-hitter, as Ashlee Gieger (pictured left)
recorded just the third seven-inning no-hitter in school
history. Janice Lemchack achieved the feat twice in 1988,
with her last one coming on April 19, 1988 against
Monmouth.
Kean took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, as
Alicia Banz led off with her team-leading fourth
homerun of the season.
Two innings later, second baseman Katie Schuh
hit her first career homerun, a two-run shot to extend the lead to
3-0.
Gieger took care of the rest, as she struck out a career-high
seven and allowed three walks in her second complete game shutout
of the season.
Earlier this season, Gieger came within three outs of a
five-inning no-hitter against Rutgers-Newark. Kean also had a
five-inning no-hitter in 1996 when Amber Lang no-hit Jersey
City.
The Cougars had four players with two hits apiece, including
Banz, Schuh, Megan Cegielski and Maria
Scopellito.
Kean travels to #14 Rowan University on Saturday, April 21, for
a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader.
