KISSIMMEE, Fla. (3/21/08) - The Kean University softball team wrapped up its spring trip at the Rebel Spring Games, defeating Bethany College (W. Va.), 9-0, and Western Connecticut State University, 2-1, on Friday afternoon to improve to 13-1 this season. GAME ONE: Shotwell Tosses Two-Hitter in Shutout Victory

Sophomore right-hander Cassie Shotwell (Dunellen, N.J.) (pictured left) allowed just two hits as she picked up her third victory of the season with the 9-0 five-inning, shutout victory over Bethany College.

After the Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a RBI single by junior Nikki Castagno (Staten Island, N.Y.), Kean scored seven runs in the third inning to break the game open.

Senior third baseman Kara Schultz (Clinton, N.J.) had an RBI single to drive in junior left fielder Jesse Buchanan (Washington Twp., N.J.), who led the inning off with a bunt single and stole both second and third bases.

Senior first baseman Katie Hicks (Medford Lakes, N.J.) walked to put runners on first and second, and the bottom of the Cougar lineup delivered four straight RBI hits to extend the lead to 6-0. Kean tacked on two more runs in the inning, taking advantage of an error to build the 8-0 advantage.

The Cougars tacked on one more run in the fifth inning, when senior shortstop Johanna Hedler (South Plainfield, N.J.) tripled to lead off the inning and would later score on an error.

At the plate, Castagno was a perfect 3-of-3 with a team-high two RBI and one run scored, while senior catcher Vicki Lanza (Edison, N.J.) was 2-of-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Hicks added a pair of walks and two runs scored in the victory.

With her fifth-inning triple, Hedler tied the program record with her 10th career triple.

GAME TWO: Kean Strikes Twice in Sixth to Rally Past WestConn, 2-1

Senior Kara Schultz was 2-of-3 with one RBI and senior Johanna Hedler recorded her 150th career hit to help lead the Cougars to a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Western Connecticut State University in the team's final game of the spring trip on Friday afternoon.

Trailing 1-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, Hedler led off with a double and would move over to third base on a bunt single by junior Jesse Buchanan to put runners on first and third with no outs.

Two batters later, Schultz drove in Hedler to tie the game with a bloop single to short centerfield. Later in the inning, senior Vicki Lanza (Edison, N.J.) had a two-out single down the left-field line to score Buchanan for the game-winning run.

Sophomore Allison Thibault (Garfield, N.J.) added a hit in the victory.

On the mound, rookie Courtney Smyth (Abington, Pa.) (pictured right) went the distance, allowing just three hits and no earned runs to improve to 6-0 this season.

The Cougars open New Jersey Athletic Conference play on Saturday, March 29, with a doubleheader at 1 p.m.