UNION, N.J. (4/12/08) - The Kean University softball team used a pair of seventh-inning rallies to defeat Rutgers-Camden (1-0, 6-4) in a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. Senior catcher Vicki Lanza (Edison, N.J.) homered twice in the nightcap, as the Cougars (20-6, 7-3 NJAC) erased a two-run deficit in top of the seventh inning to sweep the Scarlet Raptors (3-21-1, 1-9 NJAC).

GAME ONE: Smyth, Hicks Lift Cougars in Opener, 1-0

Senior first baseman Katie Hicks (Medford Lakes, N.J.) drove in the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead Kean to the 1-0 victory in the opener.

In the inning, junior Sara Steinman (Springfield, N.J.) walked to lead off the inning and sophomore centerfielder Allison Lizzi (Cherry Hill, N.J.) reached on an error on a sacrifice bunt to put runners on first and second with no outs.

After moving over to second and third on the sac bunt by senior Vicki Lanza, Hicks (pictured right) flied out down the right field line to score Steinman for the game-winner.

The Scarlet Raptors had their best opportunity to score runs in the first inning after opening the game with back-to-back singles by sophomore centerfielder Steph Klotz (Nutley, N.J.) and freshman second baseman Brooke Keenan (Mt. Laurel, N.J.). A sacrifice bunt moved both runners over before the Cougars got out of the jam with a foul out and groundout to end the scoring threat.

On the mound for Kean, freshman right-hander Courtney Smyth (Abington, Pa.) earned the complete game shutout victory, allowing just six hits with no walks, while striking out four batters to improve to 9-2.

For Rutgers-Camden, junior right-hander Natalie Powell (Williamstown, N.J.) suffered the loss, allowing just three hits and one walk. At the plate, junior Valeri Bohn (Delran, N.J.) was 2-of-3 for the lone multi-hit game.

GAME TWO: Four-Run Seventh Rallies Kean in Nightcap, 6-4

Trailing 4-2 in the top of the seventh inning, sophomore designated player Allison Thibault (Garfield, N.J.) led off with a walk and scored on a RBI double to right center by senior shortstop Johanna Hedler (South Plainfield, N.J.) to cut the deficit to one run.

The Cougars tied the game following a bunt single by junior left fielder Jesse Buchanan (Washington Twp., N.J.), as Hedler scored on a rundown that resulted in Buchanan advancing to second on the late throw home. After junior second baseman Sara Steinman advanced Buchanan over to third with the sacrifice bunt, senior Vicki Lanza followed two batters later with her second homerun of the game for the 6-4 edge.

Rutgers-Camden took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, taking advantage of three hits and one Cougar error for the early lead. Sophomore Steph Klotz led the inning off with a single and would later score on the error for the first run of the game.

Sophomore first baseman Amanda D'Anduono (Lanoka Harbor, N.J.) added a RBI single to drive in senior shortstop Kathleen Dreitlein (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) who had singled earlier in the inning.

Kean trimmed the lead to one run in the fourth inning on Lanza's first homerun of the game, a solo shot to left field. The Scarlet Raptors got a run back in the bottom of the fifth, before the Cougars again cut the lead back to one run in the top of the sixth inning on a RBI single by senior Kara Schultz (Clinton, N.J.)

The Scarlet Raptors extended the lead back to two runs in the bottom of the sixth, when sophomore pitcher/third baseman Steph Skroski (Stratford, N.J.) homered to left field.

On the mound, senior right-hander Kristen Hennings (Jackson, N.J.) (pictured left) went the distance for the Cougars, allowing six hits and three runs to improve to 4-3 this season.

At the plate, Lanza and Schultz each finished with two hits, while Hedler, Buchanan, Lizzi and Thibault each had one hit and one run scored.

For the Scarlet Raptors, Klotz was 2-of-4 with one run scored in the game. Skroski picked up a no decision, allowing five hits and two earned runs in five and third innings of work.

The Cougars return to action on Tuesday, April 15, when they host William Paterson University in a NJAC doubleheader at 3 p.m.