MONTCLAIR, N.J. (5/9/13) – The Kean University softball team dropped a 1-0 duel with DeSales University to open the 2013 NCAA Division III Softball Championship on Thursday. The game ended with Kean's tying run at third base and the winning run on second.

In the top of the first, Kean starter Courtney Yard surrendered two hits but rightfielder Megan Cegielski (pictured below) gunned down a Bulldog runner at the plate to end the inning. Katie Schuh led off the home half with a single but was stranded at third as the first frame ended scoreless.

Both teams had their chances to score early on; in the last half of the third, Jill Martin led off with a walk and made her way to third but was left there as the inning ended. DeSales had five hits in the first four innings but had yet to score as well.

With runners on the corners and two outs in the top of the fifth, Cegielski made a fantastic running catch in the rightfield gap to rob Julie Brugger of at least a double and keep the game tied.

In the top of the seventh inning, DeSales finally pushed across a run. The Bulldogs got a leadoff pinch hit from Kayla Adanalian and brought her around to score despite not having the ball leave the infield.

Down to their last licks, Casey Glatts worked her second walk of the day and Martin was hit by a pitch to put both the tying and game-winning runs on base for Kean with one out. Kelsey Hannan walked to load the bases but pitcher DJ McCauley got the last two outs in the air to earn the shutout victory.

Schuh (pictured left) finished with two hits for the Cougars, and Yard struck out six and scattered nine hits in her fourth 1-0 loss of the season.

Click here to see a postgame interview with head coach Margie Acker and pitcher Courtney Yard.

Kean will now play the College of Staten Island tomorrow morning in an elimination game. That game will begin at 10 a.m.