LITTLE FALLS, N.J. (4/17/12) – The Kean
University softball team dropped a pair of one-run decisions to #15
Montclair State University, 1-0 and 5-4, in a New Jersey Athletic
Conference doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon.
Sophomore Alex Hill picked up both complete game
victories and had a total of 16 strikeouts to keep the Red Hawks
(30-3, 11-1 NJAC) atop the NJAC standings. Kean rookie
Courtney Yard went the distance in both games,
scattering 10 hits and seven strikeouts between the two games for
the Cougars (19-13, 8-4 NJAC).
GAME ONE: Cougars Fall, 1-0, in Opener Despite
Four-Hitter by Yard
The 2011 NJAC Pitcher of the Year and Rookie of the Year,
Alex Hill allowed just two hits and drove in the
game's only run to lift the Red Hawks to the 1-0 win in the
opener.
In the bottom of the first inning, centerfielder Shannon
Mozek led off with a single and moved over to second base on
the sacrifice bunt, where she would score on the RBI single to
right-center by Hill two batters later for the game's lone
run.
The rest of the way, Hill was locked in a scoreless
pitcher's duel with Kean freshman right-hander
Courtney Yard, as each allowed only two hits the
rest of the way.
Hill closed out the win by recording her 10th
strikeout of the game, as Kean had the tying run in scoring
position.
Yard allowed just four hits total in the game and had four
strikeouts.
GAME TWO: Montclair State Holds on for 5-4
Victory
Montclair State scored four runs in the fourth inning to erase a
1-0 deficit and scored what proved to be the game-winning run an
inning later to complete the sweep with the 5-4 win.
Alex Hill allowed just one earned run and struck out
six in the victory.
The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, as senior
shortstop Alicia Banz was hit by a pitch to lead
off the inning and would move over to third base following the
sacrifice bunt by freshman Maria Scopellito and
single by Katie Schuh. Two batters later,
sophomore left fielder Sandra Binkiewicz was also
hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting up the bases loaded walk
to sophomore first baseman Kelly Moorehead for the
1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Shannon Mozek led off
with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch, before moving
over to third base on the infield single by Jamie
Paulino. Third baseman Dana Amato followed with
a one-run double to right field and two batters later, first
baseman Alisha Cumberton had a two-run double to give the
Red Hawks the lead, 3-1. Cumberton would later score on the
RBI groundout by Katie Muglia after moving over to third
base on a wild pitch, giving Montclair State the 4-1
lead.
An inning later, the Red Hawks scored the critical insurance
run, as right fielder Stephanie Szeliga had a one-out
double and scored on the single by Mozek.
The Cougars pulled to within 5-4 with three runs in the sixth
inning following a pair of Red Hawk errors that allowed two runners
on, as Banz (pictured left) had a two-run triple and would score on
the sacrifice fly by Scopellito.
Kean was unable to get the tying run aboard in the top of the
seventh inning, as Hill retired the side to win her 19th
game of the season.
Banz was 1-of-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Yard
(14-8) scattered six hits and three strikeouts in the loss.
The Cougars host St. Joseph's College (LI) on Thursday,
April 19, in a non-conference doubleheader at 3:30 p.m.
