Box Score (Game #1) 
Box Score (Game #2)

UNION, N.J. – William Paterson (17-13, 5-7 NJAC) dropped a pair of games at Kean (22-6, 9-3 NJAC), 3-2 and 8-2, in NJAC softball action April 15.

During the first game of the day, Kean rookie right-hander Courtney Smyth allowed just three hits and no earned runs, going the distance to pick up her 10th win of the season in the opener.

The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning when senior Vicki Lanza singled through the left side to drive in junior outfielder Jesse Buchanan. Kean tacked two runs in the next inning, as senior shortstop Johanna Hedler had a RBI-single and would later score on an error for the 3-0 lead.

The Pioneers got back in the game in the final inning, as freshman second baseman Lindsey Nadolny (Belford, N.J./David Brearley) doubled to right-center to lead off the inning. Freshman right fielder Kelly Lauter (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury) followed with a single to left-center, and a throwing error allowed pinch runner Kathleen Wehmann (Harrington Park, N.J./Old Tappan) to score and moved Nadolny to third base. Junior Ana Abourashed (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) had a sacrifice fly to score Nadolny and pull within one run, but the final two Pioneers grounded out to end the game.

Senior right-hander Diana Schraer (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) allowed just four hits and two earned runs, while striking out seven batters in the losing effort.

Kean broke a 2-2 tie in the night cap, scoring four runs with two outs in the fourth inning en-route to the 8-2 victory.

With the game tied at 2-2 after three innings of play, the Cougars loaded the bases after three straight singles by senior Katie Hicks and juniors Sara Steinman and Nikki Castagno. After a fielder's choice forced out Hicks at home for the second out, senior Johanna Hedler singled to left field to drive in Castagno and Steinman for the 4-2 lead. Sophomore Allison Thibault and Hedler would then score later in the inning on a passed ball and throwing error for the four-run advantage.

The Cougars added a single run in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by senior Vicki Lanza, and Lanza hit her third home run in as many games in the seventh inning to extend the lead to 8-2.

Kean took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a RBI-double by sophomore center fielder Allison Lizzi and a RBI-groundout by Kara Schultz, before the Pioneers tied the game with single runs in the second and third inning. Freshman Rayna Caruso (Madison, N.J./Madison) had a RBI-single in the second inning, and Nadolny homered to straight-away center field the following inning to tie the game.

Lizzi finished 2-of-3 with one RBI and two runs scored, while Lanza added a pair of hits, two RBI and one run scored. On the mound, Smyth earned the victory in relief, allowing just five hits and one earned run to improve to 11-2 this season.

At the plate for the Pioneers, sophomore Christina Zippler (Blackwood, N.J./Washington Twp.) had the lone multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-3. Schraer suffered the loss (10-5), allowing four runs (two earned) in 3.2 innings of relief.

William Paterson will host John Jay in a doubleheader Thursday, April 17, at 3:00 p.m.