NEWARK, NJ – Senior righthander Jess Murray hurled a three-hitter in the second game, but Kean senior third baseman Kara Schultz hammered a three-run homer over the left centerfield fence to help the Cougars survive an upset bid and sweep Rutgers-Newark, 5-0 and 3-1, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader on Alumni Field.

NCAA Statistics:  Kean 5, Rutgers-Newark 0   Kean 3, Rutgers-Newark 1

After freshman righthander Courtney Smyth hurled a four-hit, nine-strikeout shutout for the Cougars (18-4, NJAC 5-3) in the opener, Schultz's first home run of the season spoiled Murray's performance. Murray slipped to 1-8.

Rutgers-Newark (3-23, NJAC 0-8) was led by senior second baseman Shauna Gallagher (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Hills) and sophomore leftfielder Sam Weer who each went three for six on the day.

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In the opener, sophomore centerfielder Allison Lizzi went three for four, scored the game-winning run in the second, doubled and scored to start a two-run sixth inning and had an RBI single to cap a two-run rally in the seventh.

Gallagher, Weer, Zelaya and losing pitcher Carrie McGuire (0-8) each singled against Smyth.

In game two, junior leftfielder Jesse Buchanan singled to lead off the fourth ahead of a one-out walk by Lizzi to set the stage for Schultz's game-winning shot.

Gallagher, Zelaya and sophomore leftfielder Sam Weer notched two hits apiece in the nightcap.  Gallagher scored the Raider run on a pinch-hit sacrifice fly by senior Nikki Spampinato in the sixth.

Freshman righthander Jess Mattos improved to 4-0 off of Schultz's hit, giving up eight hits while striking out six and walking no one.

Rutgers-Newark hosts Baruch in a non-conference doubleheader on Alumni Field on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. while the Cougars are at Lebanon Valley for a 3 o'clock non-conference twinbill.