UNION, N.J. (March 16, 2023) – Senior Olivia Warner delivered five hits and four RBI across two games, but the Stevens Institute of Technology softball team was swept by Kean University Thursday in a non-conference doubleheader at Cougar Field.

The sweep marked four straight one-run losses for Stevens. The Ducks fell 2-1 in the opener in nine innings before losing 5-4 in the night cap. The wins pushed Kean to 10-4 on the season, including winning five straight. The Ducks dropped to 5-7, with six of their seven losses being by two runs or fewer. Thursday's doubleheader marked the first-ever meeting between the teams. 

Eliza Filus was the leader for Kean on the day. In game one, she led the team with two hits. In the second game, Filus had three hits, scored twice, and drove in a run to power the Cougars' offense.

"One-run losses are really tough," head coach Emily Kaczmarek said. "I thought both teams had some really solid defensive plays. For us, however, I think our highs were high, but our lows were really low in some key moments of both games, and ultimately, that ended up being the difference maker. We need to close that gap; our defense needs to be able to support our offense. Overall, it was two competitive games today, but we just fell short."

Game one was the lowest scoring game of the season for the Ducks with the teams combining for just three runs.

Stevens stranded runners on first and second in the first inning. With two outs, sophomore Rachael Prescott was walked to put a runner on first. Warner then singled in the next, but they were unable to bring in a run.

After getting out of a jam in the bottom of the second, Stevens was able to put two runners on in the third via a walk and an error, but again were unable to bring home a run.

Senior Erin Kreis (1-4) was superb in the opener despite suffering the loss. Across seven shutout innings, she only allowed three hits and struck out three

In the top of the seventh, first-year Emily Wohlleber hit a leadoff single to give Stevens some momentum as they attempted to score the first run of the game. Junior Carolyn Yahn pinch-ran for Wohlleber and reached second two batters later on a fielding error by Kean's shortstop. Stevens would not be able to bring the runner in scoring position home despite a second Cougar error as Annabella Marino (5-1) retired fifth-year Meg Halloran to end the threat. Kreis retired Kean in order in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings. 

With Halloran starting on second to begin the eighth, Prescott grounded out but advanced Halloran to third. Warner then reached base on a fielder's choice as the Cougars tried to get Halloran out at home but were unsuccessful as the Ducks' center fielder scampered home with the first run of the game. 

Kean responded in the bottom of the eighth frame to tie things up, forcing another inning. After the runner was placed on second to begin the inning, the Cougars had three straight with Melody Caces scoring on the first one.

In the ninth, sophomore Emma Ruiz hit a two-out single up the middle, but sophomore pinch-runner Megan Curtis was thrown out trying to score from second to end the threat.

After ending the Ducks' threat, Marino was placed at second and came around to score on a pair of wild pitches to send Kean to the walkoff victory. 

Marino (5-1) pitched all nine innings for Kean and allowed seven hits and an unearned run, while striking out three.

After the tough loss in the opener, Stevens wasted no time getting on the board in the second game as they struck in the first inning. After Halloran reached on a bunt, she was able to advance to second in the next at bat and then to third on a wild pitch. Warner then hit an RBI single to score Halloran.

Kean responded by scoring three runs in the bottom of the first off first-year Ella Tozduman (3-3). Filus, Karly Messina, and Sydney Hixenbaugh each had an RBI as Kean took the early lead.

Moving to the third, Warner hit another RBI single to bring home Halloran. Halloran had singled with one out and reached second on a Kean error. Warner drove an 0-1 pitch down the right-field line to score Halloran from second. 

Kean got the run back, however, on a single by Autaum Hilyer. 

Warner and Halloran linked up again in the fifth. Halloran, this time, reached on another Kean error and advanced to second on the play. Two batters later, Warner delivered another RBI single to cut the deficit to one.

Trailing by a run, graduate student Siobhan Cottell hit a leadoff double to immediately put a runner in scoring position for the Ducks. Fifth-year Lexi Gregule pinch ran for Cottell, Senior Alex Schoellig sacrificed Gregule to third and Ruiz followed with a bunt single to score Gregule to tie the game. However, Kean took advantage of a Stevens error in the bottom half of the inning, with Marino driving in Messina with an RBI single for what would prove to be the winning run.

Abby Burns (3-0) pitched all seven innings for Kean. She allowed nine hits, four runs, and struck out sixs. Tozduman lasted 5 1-3 innings, giving up seven hits and five runs. She recorded two strikeouts. First-year Ashley Allen pitched two-thirds of an inning and struck out two of the three batters she faced.

Up Next: Softball kicks off MAC Freedom play when they head to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania to take on King's College (PA) for a doubleheader. Game one is set for 11 a.m. The two teams split last year's matchups in Weehawken. Links for live stats and video are posted to StevensDucks.com.

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