UNION, N.J. (4/10/07) Junior first baseman Katie Hicks (Medford Lakes, N.J.) hit a pair of homeruns and junior shortstop Johanna Hedler (South Plainfield, N.J.) had a homerun and a pair of doubles with three runs scored, as the Kean University softball team swept Rutgers-Newark, 6-1 and 8-4, in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on Tuesday afternoon. The Cougars improved to 18-4 overall, 6-2 NJAC, while the Scarlet Raiders fell to 9-15 overall, 1-7 in the conference. GAME ONE: HICKS, HEDLER HOMER IN 6-1 VICTORY
Junior first baseman Katie Hicks and junior shortstop Johanna Hedler each hit a homerun in the fourth inning and sophomore right-hander Meg Gierke (Glen Gardner, N.J.) allowed just four hits with seven strikeouts in the complete game victory, as the Cougars won the opener 6-1.
The Cougars got on board in the first inning after Hedler doubled to lead off the inning, advanced to third on a bunt single by sophomore left fielder Jesse Buchanan (Washington Twp., N.J.) and scored on a Rutgers-Newark error. The Cougars added another run when Buchanan scored on a sacrifice fly by junior third baseman Kara Schultz (Clinton, N.J.).
Rutgers-Newark cut the deficit in half in the top of the third inning, as freshman designated player Travia Smith (Flemington, N.J.) scored on a RBI single by junior centerfielder Priscilla Rodriguez-Vivas (Cliffside Park, N.J.).
In the bottom half of the inning, Kean pushed the lead back to the two-run cushion on a RBI single by sophomore second baseman Sara Steinman (Springfield, N.J.).
The following inning, the Cougars broke the game open scoring three runs on three hits and one error. With one out, Hicks hit her first career homerun and two batters later, Hedler followed with a solo shot down the right field line. Steinman drove in Buchanan for the final run of the game with a RBI single to left field.
Gierke improved to 12-1 with her 10th complete game of the year, while Hedler, Buchanan and Steinman combined for seven hits, five runs and three RBI. Hedler finished a triple shy of the cycle, as she was 3-for-4 with a double and a homerun. Buchanan added a pair of hits and three runs scored, while Steinman was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI.
For Rutgers-Newark, Smith was 1-for-1 with a pair of walks and one run scored, while Rodriguez-Vivas was 1-for-2 with one RBI and one walk. On the mound, senior right-hander Christine Sciarra (Lodi, N.J.) suffered the loss as she allowed 10 hits and five earned runs.
GAME TWO: SIX RUN FIFTH INNING LIFTS COUGARS, 8-4
Junior Katie Hicks hit her second homerun of the day and sophomore Meg Gierke earned the victory in relief, as the Cougars rallied past Rutgers-Newark, 8-4, to win the nightcap.
The Scarlet Raiders built a 4-1 lead with three runs in the third inning on homeruns by junior Charlotte Abate (North Plainfield, N.J.) and freshman left-hander Elena Morge (Cranford, N.J.). After senior third baseman Jen Raido (Secaucus, N.J.) singled with one out, Abate hit a two-run shot over the centerfield fence. Morge helped herself out two batters later with a solo shot to right-centerfield for the three run lead.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Cougars answered back with six runs to take the lead, as the first five batters scored and Hicks hit her second homerun of the afternoon to cap the rally. Hedler led the inning off with a double and would score the first run on a bases-loaded wild pitch.
Junior third baseman Kara Schultz followed with a two-run single to tie the game and Hicks cleared the centerfield fence with the three-run shot to break the tie and give the Cougars the 7-4 lead.
Rutgers-Newark threatened in the bottom half of the inning with the bases loaded with just one out, however Gierke struck out the final two batters looking to get out of the jam.
On the mound, Gierke scattered five hits and one walk, as she had nine strikeouts in 4.3 innings of work in relief to improve to 13-1 this season.
Sophomore Jesse Buchanan and Schultz were both solid at the plate, with Buchanan finishing 2-for-3 with one run scored and Schultz going 2-for-4 with three RBI and one run scored.
For Rutgers-Newark, Morge and Abate were both 3-for-4, while Raido was 2-for-2 with two runs scored. On the mound, Morge dropped below .500 (6-7), as she went the distance with seven strikeouts.
