LITTLE FALLS, N.J. (4/24/10) - Junior right-hander Courtney Smyth pitched a complete-game, three-hit shutout in the opener, as the Kean University softball team earned a split with host Montclair State University in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon. The Cougars (22-12, 7-7 NJAC) won the opener, 3-0, before Montclair State (18-14, 6-8 NJAC) earned the 3-2 win the nightcap.
GAME ONE: Smyth Blanks Red Hawks in Opener, 3-0
Junior Courtney Smyth allowed just three hits as she posted her second-straight complete game shutout victory with the 3-0 win in the opener.
The Cougars scored the only run they would need in the top of the first inning when junior left fielder Lindsay Kennedy led off with a walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Alicia Banz and scored on the RBI single by junior designated player Katie Yard for the 1-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Cougars tacked on a pair of insurance runs on a double by senior right-fielder Allison Lizzi, scoring Kennedy and Banz for the 3-0 advantage.
Smyth (10-7) struck out six Red Hawks and allowed just two walks, as she retired five of the final six batters and 14 of the final 16 batters in the game.
Yard and Lizzi each finished 2-of-4, while Kennedy was 1-of-3 with two runs scored.
GAME TWO: Montclair State Defeats Kean in Nightcap, 3-2
Montclair State scored one run in the top of the third inning to break a 2-2 tie and defeat the Cougars in the nightcap, 3-2.
The Red Hawks took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, taking advantage of three hits and a one Cougars error to score the unearned runs.
Kean responded in the bottom of the second inning with a pair of runs to tie the game. After junior first baseman Katie Yard led off with a single and advanced to second base on the sacrifice bunt by senior pitcher Cassie Shotwell, Yard scored when rookie Katie Zolli reached on an error. Senior designated player Allison Thibault singled to move Zolli into scoring position, and senior centerfielder Melissa Dietrich followed with the RBI single to drive in Zolli to tie the game.
In the top of the third inning, the Red Hawks scored the go-ahead run when freshman Jamie Paulino had an RBI single for the final run of the game in the 3-2 win.
For the Cougars, Thibault finished 2-of-3 at the plate. Shotwell (12-5) suffered the loss on the mound, surrendering just five hits and one earned run, while striking out seven.