Castagno, Steinman Lift Kean to
Sweep of DeSales
UNION, N.J. (4/17/08) - Junior Sara
Steinman (Springfield, N.J.) hit two homers in the opener
and junior Nikki Castagno (Staten Island, N.Y.)
delivered the game-winning hit in the eighth inning of the nightcap
to lead the Kean University softball team to a sweep of DeSales
University in non-conference action on Thursday afternoon.
The Cougars (24-6) won the opener 4-0, while rallying to win the
nightcap 5-4 in eight innings over DeSales (16-10).
GAME ONE: Steinman Homers Twice in 4-0 Victory
(Boxscore)
Junior Sara Steinman it a pair of two-run
homeruns and freshman right-hander Courtney Smyth
(Abington, Pa.) earned the complete game shutout victory
to lead the Kean softball team to a 4-0 victory over DeSales in the
opener.
After senior first baseman Katie Hicks (Medford Lakes,
N.J.) led off the bottom of the second inning with a
single and moved over to second base on a sacrifice bunt by senior
Kara Schultz (Clinton, N.J.), Steinman followed
with the two-run blast over the left-centerfield fence for the 2-0
lead.
Two innings later, Hicks (pictured right) again led off with a
single to left field and moved over to second on the sac bunt by
Schultz before Steinman followed with another two-run shot, this
time to right centerfield for her fourth round tripper of the
season.
Steinman finished 3-of-3 with four RBI and two runs scored,
while Hicks added two hits and two runs scored and senior shortstop
Johanna Hedler (South Plainfield, N.J.) was
2-of-3.
On the mound, Smyth improved to 12-2, allowing just five hits
with five strikeouts.
For DeSales, freshmen Jen Lococo (Easton, Pa.) and
Kristen Schultz (Laurys Station, Pa.)
each were 1-of-2.
GAME TWO: Castagno Singles in Game-Winner in Bottom
of Eighth (Boxscore)
Junior right-fielder Nikki Castagno (pictured
left) singled to right field with two outs in the bottom of the
eighth inning to drive in senior Kara Schultz for
the game-winning run to earn the sweep of the Bulldogs.
After the Cougars held DeSales in the top of the eighth inning,
a dropped foul ball with two outs extended the inning for Kean and
Castagno delivered the game-winning hit two batters later with
runners on first and second.
Kean battled back all game, trailing 2-0 in the middle of the
fourth inning and by one run apiece in the middle of the fifth and
middle of the seventh innings before finally plating the
game-winning run to earn the victory.
Tied at 3-3 heading into the top of the seventh inning, DeSales
catcher Kristen Schultz doubled to left field to drive in
the go-ahead run for the 4-3 edge. Kean battled right back in
the bottom of the inning when junior left fielder Jesse
Buchanan (Washington Twp., N.J.) lined a one-out triple to
right centerfield and would score on a RBI groundout by sophomore
Allison Lizzi (Cherry Hill, N.J.) to tie the game
and force extra innings.
DeSales took the early lead in the second inning when Schultz
drove in freshman shortstop Kate Steiner (Walnutport, Pa.)
with a sacrifice fly for the 1-0 lead.
The Bulldogs extended the lead to 2-0 in the fourth inning, as
junior Kelly Moran (Bethlehem, Pa.) led off with a double
and scored on a bases loaded RBI fielder's choice by freshman
Kylie Fehnel (Nazareth, Pa.).
Kean tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom half of the inning on
back-to-back RBI singles by juniors Sara Steinman
and Castagno.
The two teams traded runs in the fifth inning, as DeSales took
advantage of a Cougar error 
and Kean senior catcher Vicki Lanza (Edison, N.J.)
hit a RBI double off the right field fence to drive in Buchanan.
On the mound for Kean, freshman right-hander Jess Mattos
(Carteret, N.J.) (pictured right) improved to 5-0, earning
the win in four innings of relief. For DeSales, freshman
left-hander Jen Lococo scattered nine hits and two walks
in the losing effort.
Castagno, Lanza and Buchanan each finished with two hits for
Kean. Fehnel led the Bulldogs going 3-of-4 at the
plate. Moran and Steiner each added two hits and a combined
three runs scored.
Kean returns to New Jersey Athletic Conference action on
Saturday, April 19, when they travel to conference-leader Montclair
State University. The first-pitch of the doubleheader is
scheduled for 1 p.m.
