Softball
Lebanon Valley 9, Kean 4 – 9 innings
Lebanon Valley 6, Kean 2 – 6 innings

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 box Score

UNION, N.J. – #24 Lebanon Valley softball swept a mid-week doubleheader from Kean Thursday afternoon. The Dutchmen claimed a 9-4 nine inning win in the opening game and a 6-2 victory in the second after the game was called in the sixth due to darkness.

Katie Freeman led the Dutchmen in game one, going 4-for-5 at the plate with two runs and two RBI. One hit included her 10th career home run, tying classmate Meghan Donoghue as the program's all-time leader.

Donoghue added three hits and Kristen Palmerio notched two hits in the opening contest. Palmerio and Mary Readinger each registered two RBI in the win.

In the nightcap, Donoghue went 3-for-4 at the plate, while Katie Deardorff and Hartman each tallied two hits. Hartman paced the scoring with three RBI and Marisa Krause added two RBI.

The Dutchmen continue Commonwealth Conference action on Saturday with a doubleheader at Lycoming beginning at 1 p.m.

GAME ONE
Freeman's solo homer to left center in the second inning started the scoring, until Kean took the lead in the fifth inning with two runs. Leadoff walks rounded the bases on a single to right field by Katie Schuh and an error. Both teams exchanged runs in the sixth inning, with LVC's coming off an error.

The Dutchmen tallied one run in the seventh inning to tie the score at four. Donoghue hit a leadoff double to left field and advanced to third on a wild pitch. A single to left by Freeman scored Donoghue. Pitcher Laura Snyder retired all three Kean batters in the seventh inning to send the game to extra innings.

Again both teams exchanged runs in the eighth inning. With Chelsea Artz starting the inning on second, a sacrifice bunt by Chelsea Kehr moved Artz to third and a double by Donoghue scored the run.

Lebanon Valley broke the game open in the ninth inning behind five runs. Steffani Secola began on second base and Freeman opened the inning with a double to right. Hartman loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch and Eberhart sent Secola home after also being struck by a pitch. A two-RBI single up the middle by Readinger continued the inning and a single through the right side by Palmerio scored two more.

Val Malizzia started in the circle for LVC and pitched five innings. She allowed three runs on three hits and struck out three. Snyder finished the game, throwing four innings and striking out five.

GAME TWO
Four runs in the third inning gave Lebanon Valley the early lead. Deardorff notched a bunt for a single to start the inning, Palmerio drew a walk, and Donoghue singled to load the bases. With one out, Krause singled down the left field line to score to runners and Hartman continued with a double to right to send two more home.

Kean responded in the bottom of the inning with a run sent home on a bases loaded hit by pitch.

LVC added a run in the fifth and sixth innings for a five run advantage. A double to right center by Hartman scored one in the fifth, while Steph Hulme hit a solo home run to left in the sixth inning. It was her first of the season.

The Cougars scored a run in the sixth off a double by Alicia Banz before the game was called due to darkness.

Snyder picked up her second win of the day after starting and pitching five innings. She allowed one run and struck out six batters. Palmerio tossed the final inning for the Dutchmen.