NCAA TOURNAMENT: No. 13 Kean Tops Endicott, 2-0

UNION, N.J. — The Endicott softball team fell to No. 13 nationally ranked Kean University, 2-0, in the opening game of the NCAA Tournament Union Regional on Friday afternoon at Cougar Field. 

Kean starter Taryn DiGiacomo (Saddle Brook, N.J.) earned the win (18-4) behind a complete-game effort that included six hits, no walks, and four strikeouts.

Meanwhile, Maggie Oram (Lexington, Mass.) was dealt just her second loss of the season (15-2) via six innings of work, seven hits, two runs (both earned), two walks, and a game-high six strikeouts.

In the bottom of the first inning, the Cougars jumped out to a 1-0 lead with an RBI single to left field by Julie Raba (Spotswood, N.J.) that plated Caroline Ratti (South Plainfield, N.J.) from third base. Ratti manufactured the run for Kean as the senior right fielder led off the frame with a single to center, stole second, and advanced to third on a sac bunt from Oliva Zengel (Stockton, N.J.) before scoring.

Both teams then exchanged zeroes up until the bottom of the sixth inning when Ratti provided the all-important insurance run with a solo shot to left field.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Endicott nearly tied up the contest in the fifth inning, but Peyton Atkins (Goshen, N.Y.) was thrown out at home attempting to score from second base on a single through the right side of the infield by Carly Marchitto (Orange, Conn.). 
• Ratti was credited with the assist on the play (sixth this season) as she threw a dart to catcher Samantha Krakower (Palisades Park, N.J.) who applied the tag on her counterpart, Atkins, who attempted to slide around the tag with her left hand.
• Atkins and Olivia Odermatt (Chesire, Conn.) both collected two hits in the loss. It was Odermatt's 13th multi-hit game of the season and Atkins' ninth.
• In the bottom of the first inning, Oram buckled down and stranded the bases loaded with one out via a pair of strikeouts, which included an eight-pitch at-bat for the second out of the frame.
• The Gulls stranded five runners on base, including two (first and second) with no outs in the sixth inning.
• Kean has outscored opponents 47-4 in the first inning of its games this season. That figure also marks the Cougars' second-largest differential in an inning in 2019.

NOTES

• Kean is ranked No. 13 in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top-25 poll.
• Meanwhile, the Gulls are receiving votes in the NFCA Top-25 poll.
• Endicott and Kean entered today's game tied at 1-1 in the all-time series.
• Both meetings between the two teams prior to today's matchup occurred in 2011 (3/14/11, Win, 6-3 | 3/16/11, Loss, 6-5).
• Endicott is now 1-2 against nationally ranked opponents this season.
• Kean improved to 14-2 at home this year with today's victory.
• The Gulls are 13-2 on the road in 2019.
• The Cougars came into today's contest 14-1 overall in their last 15 games.

WHAT'S NEXT

No. 13 Kean (38-6) will play the winner of Christopher Newport / Staten Island tomorrow (Saturday, May 11) at 12 PM. Endicott (32-6) will play the loser between Christopher Newport / Staten Island on Saturday at 2:30 PM. 

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(Photo Credit - Endicott Athletic Communications)