Union, NJ: The Kean University softball team defeated Ramapo College this afternoon, 8-0 in six innings in game one and 9-5 in game two. The Cougars remain undefeated at 8-0 overall while the Roadrunners open the 2021 season 0-2 overall.
In game one, Kean scored in the first three innings to take an early 6-0 lead before adding two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Taryn DiGiacomo held the Roadrunners to just two hits in the complete game win as she moved to 4-0 overall.
The Cougars are ranked #8 in the most recent NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll. DiGiacomo struck out five, did not surrender a walk and scattered two hits for the Cougars. She also 2-4 at the plate with one run scored and one RBI.
Anna Messina and
Jaclyn Monaco recorded Ramapo's two hits in the game.
Mahogany Wheeler (0-1) recorded four strikeouts and just one walk on the mound for the Roadrunners while she scattered 11 hits in 5.1 innings of work.
In game two, Maddie Carlson drove home Paige Metz and Gabriella Fredette with a single through the left side of the infield to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Two unearned runs came home for the Cougars in the fourth inning to extend their lead 4-0.
Ramapo got on the board in the top of the fifth inning.
Thu Deo led off with a single and stole second before
Foster Schaffer drew a walk. Following the first out of the inning, Monaco beat out a bunt single to load the bases. Messina then drove a single up the middle platting Deo to put the Roadrunners on the board with their first run of the game. Ramapo then got back-to-back doubles from
Krista Verrino and
Carli Egan to plate four more runs taking a 5-4 lead.
In the bottom half of the fifth the Cougars would take the lead back when Skylar Hengeveld drove a grand slam over the left field fence putting them in the up, 8-5. One more run would come across in the inning on a wild pitch, pushing the score to 9-5 in favor of Kean.
Karly Messina moved to 2-0 on the mound for the Cougars earning the win in relief. She worked the final 2.2 innings for Kean with one strikeout and two walks. Heather Clevenger worked the first 4.1 innings with two strikeouts and two walks while letting up six hits. Kean was led by Carlson with two hits and Hengeveld who posted four RBI.
Egan led the Roadrunners at the plate finishing game two, 2-4 with two RBI.
Megan Giesecke (0-1) went the distance for Ramapo in game two. She struck out five, walked eight and surrendered seven hits.
Ramapo returns to action on Saturday, April 3rd when they travel to the College of New Jersey for a NJAC double header beginning at 1pm.
