KISSIMMEE, Fla. (3/16/07) - In their final day of action at the Rebel Spring Games, the Kean University softball split, defeating Springfield College, 6-1, in the opener, before falling to Coast Guard Academy, 9-1, in five innings. The Cougars wrapped up their Spring Trip with an 8-2 record.GAME ONE: FIVE RUN SECOND INNING LIFTS COUGARS, 6-1
Sophomore right-hander Meg Gierke (Glen Gardner, N.J.) scattered six hits and allowed only one run and one walk and the Cougars scored five runs in the second inning to defeat Springfield College, 6-1, in the first game of the day.

Junior centerfielder Katy McManus (Edison, N.J.) scored the game's first run, as she walked, stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher and scored on a foul out by junior catcher Vicki Lanza (Edison, N.J.), giving the Cougars a 1-0 lead prior to a 40 minute rain delay.

After the delay, the Cougars scored four more runs to build a 5-0 lead after two innings. Freshman designated player Allison Lizzi (Cherry Hill, N.J.) delivered the big hit with a double to centerfield to drive in a pair of runs.

In the top of the third, Springfield got on the scoreboard, scoring one run on a double by Denise Fumicello.

Kean tacked on one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning, as sophomore left fielder Jesse Buchanan (Washington Twp., N.J.) drove in junior shortstop Johanna Hedler (South Plainfield, N.J.), who had a two-out double to centerfield.

Gierke improved to 5-0 with her fourth complete game of the season. At the plate, Buchanan and sophomore second baseman Sara Steinman (Springfield, N.J.) each had two hits and one RBI, while Hedler was 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.

GAME TWO:
Coast Guard sophomore first baseman Colleen Denny (Clarence City, N.Y.) hit two homers and drove in seven runs to lead the Bears past Kean University, 9-1, in five innings.
The Bears jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first inning, as Denny hit a three-run blast with one out.

Denny added a grand slam in the second inning, as Coast Guard extended the lead to 8-0. The Bears tacked on a single run in the third inning to jump ahead 9-0.

Kean got on a scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning, as junior shortstop Johanna Hedler (South Plainfield, N.J.) had an RBI single to drive in junior first baseman Katie Hicks (Medford Lakes, N.J.) for the team's lone run.

Freshman designated player Allison Lizzi (Cherry Hill, N.J.) went 2-for-3 on the afternoon.