Softball Splits with Rutgers-Camden in NJAC
Action
CAMDEN, N.J. (4/14/07) - Sophomore right-hander
Meg Gierke (Glen Gardner, N.J.) tossed a
three-hitter and allowed no earned runs in the first game of a New
Jersey Athletic Conference softball doubleheader, as the Cougars
split with Rutgers-Camden on Saturday afternoon. The Cougars
(19-5) won the opener, 3-1, before the Scarlet Raptors (20-12) took
the nightcap, 4-0.
GAME ONE: Hedler, Steinman Homer; Gierke Earns
14th Victory BOXSCORE
Junior shortstop Johanna Hedler (South Plainfield,
N.J.) led the game off with a homerun and sophomore second
baseman Sara Steinman (Springfield, N.J.) added
her team-leading fifth homerun of the season, as the Cougars earned
a 3-1 victory in the opener.
Hedler hit her third homerun of the season, taking the first
pitch of the game over the centerfield fence for the early 1-0
lead.
Rutgers-Camden tied the game in the second inning, as junior
first baseman Kathleen Dreitlein (Berkeley Heights,
N.J.) led the inning off with a single, advanced on a
passed ball and groundout and scored on a wild pitch for the
unearned run.
The Cougars took the lead for good in the fourth inning on a RBI
single by junior catcher Vicki Lanza (Edison,
N.J.) and Steinman added the insurance run in the sixth
inning with the leadoff homerun to right field. 
Sophomore Meg Gierke allowed just three hits
and had four strikeouts, as she improved to 14-1 this season.
At the plate, Steinman and Lanza each had two hits.
GAME TWO: Rutgers-Camden Earns Split with 4-0
Victory BOXSCORE
Rutgers-Camden sophomore Natalie Powell (Williamstown,
N.Y.) allowed just three hits and scattered nine walks to
earn the 4-0 shutout victory over Kean in the nightcap.
For the Cougars, junior right-hander Kristen Hennings
(Jackson, N.J.) had six strikeouts in the loss.
The Scarlet Raptors provided plenty of defensive support for
Powell, as they turned a double play in the fourth, fifth and sixth
inning to end the innings.
Rutgers-Camden scored the only run Powell needed in the first
inning on back-to-back two-out doubles by freshman third baseman
Steph Skroski (Stratford, N.J.) and junior first
baseman Kathleen Dreitlein.
In the fifth inning, second baseman Kim Zlupko
(Cinnaminson, N.J) hit her first home run of the season on
a two-run shot to left field to score senior shortstop
Alaina Giles (Willingboro, N.J.).
The Raptors added their final run in the top of the seventh on
an RBI single by Dreitlein.
Hennings allowed 10 hits and four earned runs as she fell to 4-3
this season. At the plate, sophomore left fielder
Jesse Buchanan (Washington Twp., N.J.), junior
first baseman Katie Hicks (Medford Lakes, N.J.)
and freshman designated player Allison Lizzi (Cherry Hill,
N.J.) each had a hit.
For Rutgers-Camden, Skroski had three hits, while Dreitlein and
sophomore center fielder Marissa Van Cleef (Hillsborough,
N.J.) each added two.
The Cougars return to action on Tuesday, April 17, when they
travel to William Paterson University for a NJAC doubleheader at 3
p.m.
