UNION, N.J. (5/9/15) – Using nearly the same formula as game one, the Kean University softball team used a Courtney Yard shutout and a three-run homerun by Emily Bissonnette to blow past the College of Staten Island 7-0 and advance to the Championship Game of the NCAA Division III Softball Union Regional.
Yard (pictured left) pitched her-second consecutive NCAA shutout and struck out three batters to win her 21st game of the year.
In the second inning, Katie Garbarino singled over the first baseman's head down the rightfield line. In trying to nail her at first, CSI made a throwing error that allowed Garbarino to go to second. A wild pitch moved her to third. With two outs, Amanda Berezny lifted a ball to nearly the same spot down the line. This time, Dolphin rightfielder Cheyanne Gilliam fielded the ball and was able to make the unconventional 9-3 putout at first base to end the inning and temporarily save the CSI shutout.
Midway through the game, both pitchers were throwing well. Neither had allowed an extra-basehit, or even a hard-driven single for that matter. Yard struck out three and Staten Island's Jacqueline Cautela had struck out one through the first four innings.
Berezny started the fifth inning with a ringing single into the left-centerfield; the first hard-hit ball of the day. Brooke Ennis reached on an error, and Tonianne DeMatteo beat out her beautiful sacrifice bunt attempt to load the bases with nobody out.
Yard helped herself by lifting a sacrifice fly to rightfield that drove in the game's first run. With two outs, Bissonnette launched a 1-1 offering far over the centerfield fence for a three-run homerun. It was just the second of the sophomore's career and gave Kean a 4-0 lead.
In the next inning, Garbarino singled to start the frame with a line-drive to centerfield. After that, the Cougars did not have to swing the bats at all; four walks in the inning forced in two runs and made the score 6-0. Yard and Emily Sabo earned the RBIs in the inning.
Garbarino started the final rally as well by getting hit by a pitch. Cayleen Rizo worked a walk and Berezny singled through the left side to load the bases with nobody out. A productive ground ball by Ennis drove in the final run of the day.
Click here to watch a postgame interview featuring Garbarino, Bissonnette and head coach Margie Acker.
In addition to their seven runs scored, the Cougars left nine further runners on base. Garbarino and Berezny were the only players in the game to post more than one hit during the game.
The Cougars have advanced to the Championship Round of the Union Regional. The winner of loser's backet will need to beat Kean twice on Sunday to advance. The first game on Sunday will be at noon. If necessary, the final winner-take-all game will take place immediately after.
