UNION, N.J. (4/12/16) – The Kean University softball team exploded for 14 runs in game two after being shutout by William Paterson University in the opening game of their NJAC doubleheader on Tuesday. The Cougars won 14-6 in game two on a sixth-inning run-rule walk-off homerun by sophomore Kacie Worswick.
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Other Kean offensive heroes in the game were Caroline Ratti, who drove in five runs, Emily Sabo and Dana Knapp, who went a combined 8-for-8 with five runs scored and five RBI and Tiffany Varriello, who went 2-for-2 with a walk and three runs scored. Fellow senior Tonianne DeMatteo went 3-for-4 on the day.
After dropping the first game 2-0, Kean fell behind 3-0 in the top of the first of game two. This time, however, the Cougar bats awoke and scored six runs in the home half of the frame to set the stage for a barn-burner.
Kean scored twice more in the second, four times in the third and once in the fourth to go up seven. Starter Shannon McMahon settled down and shut out the Pioneers over the final two innings to give Kean a chance at the run-rule.
In the bottom of the sixth, Worswick (pictured left) led off with a towering shot directly into the stiff breeze from leftfield. The ball had had enough power behind it to bang off the scoreboard for a walk-off dinger, the first homerun of her collegiate career.
McMahon is now 8-3 on the year and has won her last seven decisions. She struck out five batters in the game two victory.
In the first game, Kean starter Kiele Eichlin struck out two with a runner on third to wiggle out of an early jam in the opening frame. Eichlin was in and out of trouble throughout the first game, but she limited WP to just two runs. She scattered seven hits, struck out four and walked two while giving her team a chance to win with the quality start.
Pioneer pitcher Allison Podmajuursky shut down the Kean offense. DeMatteo, Samantha Krakower and Ratti had the only Kean hits in the first game and Ratti was the only runner who got past second base. It was Podmajursky's 13th win of the year.
Kean is now 13-11 on the year after Tuesday and stays ahead of the Pioneers in the NJAC standings at 6-2. WPU is 19-5 overall and 5-3 in the league.
The Cougars will hit the road on Saturday for an NJAC doubleheader with No. 15 Rowan University beginning at 1 p.m.
