EWIN
EWING—The Kean University softball team won its first New Jersey Athletic Conference title in program history by defeating Richard Stockton, 3-0 in the 2010 NJAC Championship Game. The win also gave the Cougars the league’s automatic bid to the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
Junior Courtney Smyth tossed a complete-game shutout, scattering five hits and allowing just one walk while striking out three in the victory.
Kean got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Gabi Ciacciarelli was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Katie Zolli. Katie Schuh ripped a base hit to center field to drive in Ciacciarelli and give the Cougars a 1-0 lead.
Schuh came all the way around to score when a bunt was thrown into right field giving Smyth a two-run cushion.
The Cougars tacked on a run when Schuh notched a RBI single, her fourth hit of the day.
Kean, who was seeded fifth in the tournament, became the lowest seed to win the NJAC softball tournament since the field was expanded in 2006.