KISSIMMEE, Fla. (3/11/07) - The Kean University softball team pounded a combined 22 hits and 19 runs as they improved to 4-0 with victories over Manhattanville College (10-4) and Franklin & Marshall (9-2) at the Rebel Spring Games on Sunday afternoon.GAME ONE: Cougars Capitalize on Manhattanville Miscues in 10-4 Victory

Senior right-hander Mary Gardiner (Tinton Falls, N.J.) picked up the win in relief, as she allowed just two hits and no runs in two and two-thirds innings of work.

After Manhattanville took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a RBI single, Kean answered with an RBI single by junior third baseman Kara Schultz (Clinton, N.J.) in the bottom half of the inning to tie the score at 1-1. The Cougars added single runs in each of the next three innings to extend the lead to 4-1.

The Valiants had three doubles in the top of the fifth inning to knot the score at 4-4, however the Cougars scored an unearned run in the bottom half of the inning to regain the lead for good. Freshman pinch runner Melissa Dietrich (Carteret, N.J.) scored the go-ahead run on a throwing error following a wild pitch.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Cougars broke the game open, scoring five unearned runs with two outs in the inning. Junior first baseman Katie Hicks (Medford Lakes, N.J.) delivered the big hit of the inning with a two RBI double down the left field line.

Schultz and sophomore second baseman Sara Steinman (Springfield, N.J.) each went 2-for-3 with one RBI, while Hicks added a pair of runs to her two RBI double.

GAME TWO: Gierke, Cougar Bats Lead Kean Over F&M, 9-2

Sophomore right-hander Meg Gierke (Glen Gardner, N.J.) struck-out seven batters in six innings, as she picked up her second win in as many starts this season, as Kean defeated Franklin & Marshall College, 9-2, to close out the day's action. At the plate, seven different Cougars picked up hits, including five with multi-hit games, as the Cougars

Gierke allowed just four hits in six innings of work, as she has allowed no earned runs in two starts thus far this season.

Sophomore designated player Christy Giamella (Bound Brook, N.J.) hit the Cougars' first home run of the season with a solo shot in the fifth inning, as she went 2-for-2 on the afternoon.

Sophomore shortstop Johanna Hedler (South Plainfield, N.J.), junior centerfielder Katy McManus (Edison, N.J.), junior third baseman Kara Schultz (Clinton, N.J.) and junior catcher Vicki Lanza (Edison, N.J.) each added two hits and a combined four RBI and six runs scored.

The Cougars quickly got on board with a two-out rally in the top of the first inning, as they scored three runs on three hits. Schultz, Lanza and junior first baseman Katie Hicks (Medford Lakes, N.J.) each had RBI singles in the rally.

Kean scored runs in all but two innings on the afternoon before surrendering a single runs in the sixth and seventh innings.