GLASSBORO, N.J. (5/3/13) – The Kean University softball team won its NJAC Tournament elimination game with William Paterson University 5-1 on Friday afternoon. Pitcher Courtney Yard twirled a one-hitter and Sandra Binkiewicz broke a scoreless tie with a 2-RBI single in the third.

Thanks to Friday's win, Kean will return to NJAC Tournament action tomorrow at noon against an opponent to be determined.

Kelsey Hannan beat out a tapper in front of home plate to lead off the third inning with a single, and alertly moved to second on a long flyout. Megan Cegielski then laid down a bunt that was so well placed she beat it out for a single. Binkiewicz stepped to the plate and laced a double over the firstbaseman's head that drove in both runners and Yard followed with an RBI single over the thirdbase bag that made the score 3-0.

Two walks with one out put two runners on and brought the tying run to the plate in the fifth for Paterson, but a pair of groundouts to Moorehead at shortstop stranded both runners and preserved the 3-0 lead for Kean.

Yard, Moorehead and Courtney Melchionna all singled to load the bases at the start of the Kean sixth, but a 1-2-3 double play brought Jill Martin to the plate with two down and two runners on. The veteran catcher singled up the middle to score one and increase the Cougar lead to four. Hannan added another RBI single to make the tally 5-0 as the seventh inning began.

Yard (pictured left)  carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning. She induced a flyout to center on the first pitch, but Christina Austin knocked a double to left to break up Yard's bid for history with one down. Paterson did score an unearned run in the frame but it wasn't enough as Kean advanced to play in the next NJAC round with the 5-1 victory.