KISSIMMEE, Fla. (3/13/07) - The Kean University softball team improved to 6-0 this season with victories over University of Wisconsin-Stout (3-1) and Lake Forest College (4-2) at the Rebel Spring Games on Tuesday morning.GAME ONE: THREE-RUN THIRD INNING POWERS KEAN PAST WISC.-STOUT

Junior centerfielder Katy McManus (Edison, N.J.) had a two-out double to score the go-ahead runs, as the Cougars rallied from an early 1-0 deficit to defeat University of Wisconsin - Stout, 3-1, in the day's opening game.

The Blue Devils plated the game's first run, as they took advantage of two Cougar errors in the game's first two plays. Junior Jackie Juan (La Crosse, Wisc.) delivered a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score junior Beth Lloyd to take a 1-0 lead before the Cougars threw out freshman Sarah Nelson (Chippewa Falls, Wisc.) who tried advancing to third on the play.

In the bottom of the third inning, Kean junior shortstop Johanna Hedler (South Plainfield, N.J.) scored on an RBI single by sophomore second baseman Sara Steinman (Springfield, N.J.) to tie the game. One batter later, McManus drove in both Steinman and sophomore left fielder Jesse Buchanan (Washington Twp., N.J.) to give the Cougars a 3-1 lead.

On the mound, junior right-hander Kristen Hennings (Jackson, N.J.) allowed six hits and no walks, while striking out six in her second victory of the season.

GAME TWO: GIERKE EARNS COMPLETE-GAME, NINE-INNING VICTORY

Sophomore right-hander Meg Gierke (Glen Gardner, N.J.) had nine strikeouts and allowed just four hits, as the Cougars defeated Lake Forest, 4-2, in nine innings on Wednesday morning.

Gierke, who had a no-hitter through four innings, pitched the complete game victory to improve to 3-0 this season.

Junior shortstop Johanna Hedler (South Plainfield, N.J.) led the game off with an infield single and would score on a RBI groundout by sophomore second baseman Sara Steinman (Springfield, N.J.) to give Kean the early 1-0 lead.

Kean would tack on a run in the fifth inning, as Steinman had a RBI single to centerfield to score sophomore left fielder Jesse Buchanan (Washington Twp., N.J.), who had a two-out double to the left field fence.

In the bottom of the fifth, freshman Mallory Norton (Chicago, Ill.) broke up the no-hitter with a single through the left side and freshman Jill Pfund (Morceni, Mich.) had a RBI single to cut the Cougar lead to 2-1.

The Foresters tied the game in the bottom of the seventh, as senior Jenni Riddle (Bloomington, Ill.) had a two-out RBI single to score freshman Tracy Rainey (Roselle, Ill.) to force extra innings.

In the top of the ninth inning, international tie-breaking rules placed junior third baseman Kara Schultz (Clinton, N.J.) second base to start the inning, and junior catcher Vicki Lanza (Edison, N.J.) put down a sacrifice bunt that resulted in a throwing error to score Schultz. The Cougars tacked on an insurance run when junior first baseman Katie Hicks (Medford Lakes, N.J.) singled to score freshman pinch runner Melissa Dietrich (Carteret, N.J.).