Rangers Three-Hit by Cougars   

UNION, N.J. (April 28, 2010) – Kean starter Courtney Smith picked up her 11^th win of the season today as she surrendered only three hits in a 2-0 victory. Freshman Jennifer Mateo (Union City, N.J./Union City) had one of the three hits and has now hit safely in four of her last five games.

Kean (23-12) broke the scoreless tie in the bottom half of the fourth inning when Courtney Melchionna belted a solo home run over the right field wall to put the Cougars up, 1-0. The Cougars manufactured the last run of the ball game in the bottom of the sixth after a lead-off walk to the clean-up hitter, Katie Yard. After inserting a pinch runner, Allison Thibault came in to pinch-hit and sacrificed the runner over to second. Melchionna would then step in and pick up her second RBI of the day when she doubled to center.

Mateo,Kati Eggert (Denville, N.J./Morris Knolls) and Nicole Spiotta (Morris Plains, N.J./Morristown) each had a hit for Drew (10-24). The only other base runner was pitcher Adriana Durso (Old Tappan, N.J./North Valley Old Tappan), who reached on a walk in the third inning.

Smith went the distance for the Cougars, striking out five Rangers. Her counterpart, Durso, went six innings and struck out two batters. Durso was hurt by only two Melchionna swings of the bat and scattered three other hits on the afternoon.

The Rangers will make up the second game of the weather delayed doubleheader against Merchant Marine tomorrow. The Mariners and Rangers will only play one game, with first pitch set to be thrown at 5:00.