KISSIMMEE, Fla. (3/8/16) – For the third-straight day the No. 16 Kean University softball program split its two games at the Rebel Spring Games. The Cougars topped Westminster College 5-2 before falling to Marietta College 4-0 on Tuesday.
Game One vs. Westminster (Pa.)
Kean leadoff hitter Olivia Zengel manufactured the game's first run with her speed: she beat out a basehit bunt, stole both second and third and then raced home when the attempt to get her at third instead sailed into leftfield. Dana Knapp blasted a triple off the leftfield wall later in the inning, but was left stranded on third.
Kean pitcher Shannon McMahon allowed just two baserunners in the first five innings, while in contrast Kean left seven runners on base in the first four frames.
The Cougars extended their lead with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Caroline Ratti walked to start the rally, and with two outs Amanda Berezny singled to move the runner to third. An error and an Erin Hollyfield RBI single made the score 3-1.
Westminster got them right back with two runs on three hits in the sixth, knocking the Cougar cushion back down to one.
In the home half of the sixth, Emily Sabo singled and stole second and came home on another extra-basehit off the bat of Knapp to make the score 4-2. Berezny came through with another clutch basehit to plate Knapp and make the score 5-2.
McMahon (pictured left) pitched a 1-2-3 seventh to nail down the first victory of her Kean career. She scattered five hits – all singles – and did not allow a walk. She threw the complete game using only 85 pitches.
Game Two vs. Marietta
Jocelyn White of the Pioneers shut out Kean in the second game of the day, despite allowing six hits, two walks and striking out just one Cougar batter. Sabo had two hits in the game for Kean.
Though Marietta did scratch across the game's first run in the bottom of the third, a diving stop up the middle by Sabo prevented further damage in the inning.
The Pioneers tacked on three runs late in the game to pull away with White earning the complete-game shutout.
Kean is 3-3 on the year. Marietta is 5-5 and Westminster is 2-5.
The Cougars will wrap up their Florida swing on Wednesday with games against Central College and Carrol University beginning at 9:15 a.m.
