Softball

Softball Wins 20th Game of the Season

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. (4/18/07) - Sophomore second baseman Sara Steinman (Springfield, N.J.) hit her team-leading sixth homerun of the season and sophomore Meg Gierke (Glen Gardner, N.J.) allowed just two hits, as the Kean University softball team defeated host DeSales University, 6-0, in the nightcap to earn the doubleheader split.  The Cougars won their 20th game of the year (20-6), while DeSales is 9-15 with their fifth straight doubleheader split after winning the opener, 3-0.

GAME ONE: Cougars Fall in Opener, 3-0 Boxscore

Junior third baseman Kara Schultz (Clinton, N.J.) had a pair of hits, however DeSales Senior Elise Wilk (Philadelphia, Pa.) struck out seven Cougars and allowed just five base-runners in the 3-0 Bulldog win.

Wilk got all the run support she needed in the first inning, as sophomore Amanda Kensecki (Bethlehem, Pa.) knocked in freshman Kyra Monarek (Allentown, Pa.) for the first run.  Sophomore Kelly Moran (Bethlehem, pa.) added a RBI double and freshman Kerri Andrews (Bethlehem, Pa.) singled home Kensecki to account for the scoring in the opener.

On the mound for Kean, junior Kristen Hennings (Jackson, N.J.) had four strikeouts and allowed just two hits the rest of way, however she dropped to 4-4 with the loss.

GAME TWO: Steinman, Gierke Lead Cougars to 20th Win Boxscore

Sophomore Sara Steinman tied the single-season homerun record with a first-inning blast and sophomore Meg Gierke earned her 12th complete game of the season with the 6-0 victory in the nightcap.

Junior shortstop Johanna Hedler (South Plainfield, N.J.) led off the game with a single through the left side and Steinman followed two batters later with the two-run shot to left field to give the Cougars the 2-0 lead after the first inning.  With her sixth homerun of the season, Steinman ties current Kean centerfielder Katy McManus (Edison, N.J.) for the single season homerun record.  McManus set the mark a year ago in her first season with the Cougars.

In the fifth inning, Kean added a pair of insurance runs as junior Kara Schultz (Clinton, N.J.) doubled to score both Hedler and Steinman.  Steinman added a two RBI double in the seventh inning to close out the scoring for the Cougars.

On the mound, Gierke had five strikeouts and allowed just two hits and one walk as she improved to 15-1 this season.  Her 15 wins moves her into a fifth place tie for wins in a season.

At the plate, Steinman was 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and four RBI, while Hedler finished 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.

The Cougars return to action on Thursday, April 19, when they travel to William Paterson University for a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader at 3 p.m.