Box Score WAYNE, N.J. – A three-run home run from shortstop Kelly Moorehead in the sixth led fourth-seeded Kean (32-9, 14-4 NJAC) as they eliminated second-seeded Montclair State (36-6, 15-3 NJAC), 3-2, in Game 9 of the double-elimination New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Softball Tournament May 3.
The Cougars will play third-seeded Rowan in Game 10 on Sunday, May 4, at 11:00 a.m. If necessary, the same two teams will play in Game 11 at a time to be determined.
Fifth-ranked MSU got on the scoreboard during the first. With one out, senior Alisha Cumberton singled and senior Dana Amato walked. After junior pitcher Courtney Yard was able to get the second out on a fly ball to center, junior Tara Petrucelli singled in Cumberton, and Amato and Petrucelli advanced to second and third on a throwing error by the center fielder. Yard then induced a ground ball to get out of the inning with just one run allowed.
Amato led off the top of the sixth with a walk, and Petrucelli reached on a one out error to put runners on first and second. After the infield fly rule was called for the second out, Amato gave the Red Hawks a 2-0 lead when she scored on a single to left from senior Katie Muglia, who advanced to second on the throw home to set up runners on second and third with two outs. However, Yard got the next batter to ground out and end the threat.
After senior Megan Cegielski was thrown out at third trying to stretch a double into a triple to start the bottom of the frame, freshman Emily Sabo reached on an error and senior Sandra Binkiewicz was hit by a pitch to set up runners on first and second for the 24th-ranked Cougars. Senior pitcher Alex Hill induced a fly ball for the second out of the inning, but Moorehead crushed a three-run homer to left-center field to give Kean a 3-2 lead.
With two outs in the top of the seventh, Cumberton lined a single up the middle to put the tying run on base for the Red Hawks, but Yard got Amato to line out to second to secure the victory for the Cougars.
Moorehead was 1-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored for Kean. Yard (20-6) allowed six hits and two runs, one earned, during her 7.0 innings inside the circle, striking out six and walking two.
Cumberton recorded two hits and scored a run for the Red Hawks. Senior Alex Hill fell to 25-4, surrendering three unearned runs and six hits over 6.0 innings, striking out nine.
