UNION, N.J. (April 18, 2017) – The Rutgers University-Newark softball team was swept in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at nationally-ranked No. 14 Kean University.
 
Rutgers-Newark falls to 11-19 overall and 1-11 in conference play, while Kean improves to 23-5 overall and 8-4 in the NJAC.
 
Kean 4, Rutgers-Newark 0
The Scarlet Raiders and Cougars played scoreless softball for the first five innings, but Kean used an inside the park homer in the sixth inning to break the deadlock and tallied three more times in the frame for the final tally.
 
Scarlet Raider starter Kelly Yusko went the distance for the Raiders, falling to 7-12 on the season. The junior allowed four runs on eight hits and she struck out four.
 
Shannon McMahon improved 13-1 for the nationally-ranked hosts, striking out two and scattering five Scarlet Raider hits.
 
Freshman Sarah Stiehler, junior Morgan Walizer, sophomore Samantha Hoffman, junior Sam Held and junior Morgan Schweitzer had the Rutgers-Newark hits, with Schweitzer tallying a double.
 
Rutgers had its best chance in the top half of the fourth, getting back-to-back hits from Hoffman and Held with one out, but McMahon buckled down to get the last two outs of the inning.
 
Schweitzer's double broke a streak of nine-straight Raiders retired in the seventh, but Rutgers-Newark was unable to rally in falling by the 4-0 final.
 
Kean 5, Rutgers-Newark 1
The Scarlet Raiders were able to take a 1-0 lead early in the nightcap, but Kean came back to earn a 5-1 triumph.
 
Rutgers-Newark threatened in the first behind a hit batter and walk but did not score, and game-two starter Morgan Walizer stranded a runner on third in the bottom half.
 
Schweitzer put the Scarlet Raiders in front with a solo blast to left field in the second inning, launching her first home run in a Rutgers-Newark uniform on a 2-2 pitch.
 
The Cougars responded in the bottom half to tie the score, and the hosts pulled in front with three runs in the third, two crossing on a single from Dana Knapp.
 
Stiehler led off the fifth inning with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt off the bat of Walizer. Yusko was intentionally walked walked with two outs to bring the tying run to the plate, but freshman pitcher Taryn DiGiacomo earned the out she needed to keep Kean up 4-1.
 
The Cougars added an insurance run in the fifth, and despite another double from Stiehler with one out in the seventh, Kean was able to take it by the 5-1 final.
 
Stiehler led the way for Rutgers, going 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, and Schweitzer was 1-for-2 with home run and a walk. Yusko finished 0-for-0 with three intentional walks.
 
Walizer went the first three innings, giving up four runs (two earned) on four hits with one strike out. Yusko went the final three, giving up one run on six hits.
 
Giacomo pocketed the win for Kean, scattering three hits and working around five walks (three intentional) to give up just one run.
 
What's next for Newark? The Scarlet Raiders will host Baruch College in a non-league doubleheader Thursday beginning at 4 p.m. on Alumni Field.