ANNVILLE, Pa. (4/14/16) – The Kean University softball team used a stellar outing by Kiele Eichlin and a 12-hit offensive outburst to top host Lebanon Valley College 9-1 in game one of their doubleheader on Thursday. The Dutchmen countered with a 6-3 victory in the nightcap to earn the split.

Eichlin tossed the five-inning, run-rule shortened victory on just 71 pitches. She struck out four, scattered five hits and allowed only one run, which was unearned. It was her sixth victory of the season.

Kean scored one run in the first and then batted around to plate five runners in the second to blow the first game open early.

Offensively, centerfielder Dana Knapp led the charge; the junior went 3-for-3 with a walk and two runs batted in. Emily Sabo stroked a pair of doubles, drove in three and scored twice.

Senior Tonianne DeMatteo (pictured left) was 2-for-2 with a double, a walk, an RBI and two runs scored and sophomore catcher Katie Garbarino was 2-for-2 with a ribbie.

The Cougars held a 1-0 lead through three innings in the second game on an RBI single to rightfield by Samantha Krakower, but the Dutchmen put together two-run rallies in the fourth, fifth and sixth to take the lead.

Caroline Ratti introduced some drama with an RBI single up the middle in the seventh inning, but LVC pitcher Nicole Mentzer hung on for the complete-game win.

Kean is now 14-12 on the year, while the Dutchmen move to 14-10.

The Cougars, who lead the NJAC with a 6-2 conference mark, will have a pivotal conference doubleheader with No. 14 Rowan University on the road at 1 p.m. on Saturday.