Softball Wraps Up Spring Break with
Split
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (3/21/09) -
The Kean University softball team wrapped up its spring break with
a split at the Rebel Spring Games, falling to Anderson University,
7-5, in 10 innings, before rallying past Massachusetts College of
Liberal Arts, 6-3, in the final game of the trip.
GAME ONE: Cougars Fall in 10 Innings to
Anderson, 7-5
Anderson University (7-4) scored a pair of runs in the top of
the 10th inning to defeat the Cougars, 7-5, in Saturday
morning's opener.
Tied at 4-4 at the end of the seventh inning, the Ravens scored
in the top of the ninth inning to go up 5-4. After freshman
outfielder Shayla Hinchman (Pendelton, Ind.) started the
inning on second base due to international tiebreaker rules,
Hinchman advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and would later
score on a Cougar error that extended the inning.
Kean tied the game back up in the bottom half of the inning, on
a check-swing RBI single by senior second baseman Sara
Steinman (Springfield, N.J.) to drive in junior
Allison Thibault (Garfield, N.J.), who started on
second base.
The 10th inning saw Anderson score two runs, as
senior Julia Siefring (Celina, Ohio) scored on a passed
ball after advancing to third on a sac bunt to open the inning, and
freshman Kelly Rusterholz (Connersville, Ind.) homered to
left-centerfield to add the insurance run.
In the bottom of the 10th, the Cougars had runners on
second and third base with no outs after an error to open the
inning, however the Cougars fouled out and struck out twice to end
the game.
Trailing 1-0 second inning, the Cougars took a 2-1 lead on a
double 
by sophomore left-fielder Lindsay Kennedy (Parsippany,
N.J.) to drive in freshman shortstop Alicia Banz
(Carteret, N.J.) and junior centerfielder Allison
Lizzi (Cherry Hill, N.J.).
After tying the game in the top of the third inning, Anderson
regained the lead at 4-2 in the top of the fourth inning on a
two-run single by freshman Stephanie Atkins (Indianapolis,
Ind.), before the Cougars again answered in the bottom half of
the inning to tie the game at 4-4. In the inning, senior
catcher Jesse Buchanan (Washington Twp., N.J.)
tripled to right field to drive in both Thibault and junior
Cassie Shotwell (Dunellen, N.J.).
Steinman finished 2-of-4 with a double, while Thibault (pictured
right) was 1-of-3 with two runs scored.
On the mound, Shotwell went the distance for the Cougars,
allowing just six hits and four earned runs, while striking out
four batters.
For Anderson, freshman Monica Crowe (Muncie, Ind.)
earned the victory in relief, allowing just two hits and striking
out six.
GAME TWO: Mattos Pitches Kean Past MCLA,
6-3
Sophomore Jess Mattos (Carteret, N.J.) picked
up her first win of the season and the Cougars (7-7) rallied from a
3-0 first inning deficit to close out the spring break trip with
the 6-3 win over Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (1-9).
Trailing 3-0 after the first inning, the Cougars tied the game
at 3-3 in the third inning. The Cougars opened the inning
with three straight singles, as junior third baseman
Melissa Dietrich (Carteret, N.J.), junior
designated player Allison Thibault and senior
Jesse Buchanan loaded the bases with no
outs.
Dietrich would score on the sacrifice fly by senior right
fielder Nikki Castagno (Staten Island, N.Y.) and
Thibault would come around to score one batter later when shortstop
Sara Steinman singled through the right side to
trim the deficit to one. Buchanan would then tie the game on
a foul out, as she beat the throw to the plate.
Two innings later, the Cougars took the lead for good on a bases
loaded single by rookie second baseman Alicia
Banz, as junior Allison Lizzi and
Castagno each came around to score after walking earlier in the
inning.
The Cougars tacked on the insurance run in the top of the sixth
inning when Dietrich (pictured left) led off with a double to
centerfield and would score on a sacrifice fly by Buchanan.
On the mound, Mattos improved to 1-1 this season as she
scattered five hits and one walk, while allowing no runs in six and
a third innings. Steinman, Dietrich and Thibault each had two
hits apiece, while Buchanan and Castagno each had one hit, one RBI
and one run scored.
The Cougars return to New Jersey and face Oneonta State on
Monday, March 23, in a non-conference doubleheader at 3 p.m.
