Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

UNION, N.J. - Lebanon Valley took a 4-0 win in the opening game before being rocked 11-3 in five innings by Kean University in the nightcap of a non-conference doubleheader Thursday.

The Dutchmen (20-8) were led by another sparkling performance by pitcher Val Malizzia (10-1), who struck out nine to earn the shutout in game one. In the second game, the Cougars (13-13) touched Kristen Palmerio (4-4) for two big innings, including a decisive seven-run fifth that ended the game with Sara Steinman's bases-clearing three-run double.

Allie Davies went 2-for-4 with a home run in the two-game set, and Kristen Uhas was 3-for-6 to put her at 98 career hits.

GAME ONE

Davies put the Dutchmen ahead with her fourth home run of the season to left field in the second, but LVC pulled away with an unconventional fifth inning.

After Steph Hulme hit a lead-off single, Palmerio singled to center, and Katie DeJulio reached on a bunt as the Cougar defense elected to get Hulme on third. Uhas grounded out, and Caitlin Keller struck out for what should have been the third out, but a passed ball let her reach and Palmerio score. DeJulio then scored on a wild pitch by Cassie Shotwell, and Davies popped out to end the inning.

Hulme knocked in LVC's final run with a single to score Chelsea Kehr from second in the sixth.

Malizzia, meanwhile, had to work for the shutout, getting out of jams in the third, fifth, and sixth as Kean left runners on third in all three frames. The Cougars left them loaded in the sixth before Malizzia struck out Mattos to end the threat, and the LVC defense turned an 8-6 double play and a force-out to end the game.

GAME TWO

LVC took a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks consecutive singles by Kerri Datres, DeJulio, and Uhas, with Datres scoring on an error and DeJulio coming in off Uhas' hit. Shot well was knocked out of the game in the inning after getting just one out, but Jess Mattos (3-1) went the rest of the way while striking out five.

Things came undone for LVC in the second as they gave up five unearned runs. A throwing error put Steinman on to start the inning, and that started a rally that included Jesse Buchanan's one-run single and a two-run base-hit by Linday Kennedy.

LVC pulled a run back in the third after Uhas walked and scored on Palmerio's hit, but Kean ended the game with a huge seven-run fifth.

After Steinman led off with a single, Allison Lizzi homered to left-center to make it 7-3, and consecutive walks put Shotwell and Katie Yard on. A single by Melissa Dietrich loaded the bases with no outs, and Allison Thibault knocked in another run as she reached on an error.

Palmerio came out for Kehr, who got two outs, but Kennedy hit an RBI single and Steinman drilled her bases-clearing double to center to walk off with the win.

NEXT UP: LVC will head to Messiah for a big conference doubleheader Wednesday at 3 p.m.