Box Score

GLASSBORO, N.J. (May 1, 2015) – New Jersey Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year Courtney Yard (Stockton, NJ/Hunterdon Central Regional) tossed a five-hit shutout, stranding the bases loaded in the seventh inning, as fifth-seeded Kean University eliminated sixth-seeded Rutgers University-Camden, 2-0, in the NJAC softball playoffs here Friday morning.
 
Kean (24-10-1) advances to Saturday's action, where it will face fourth-seeded The College of New Jersey at noon. TCNJ edged top-seeded Rowan University, 2-1, in Friday's second game.
 
Rutgers-Camden closes its season with a 21-13-1 record, its most games over .500 since the 2007 team went 31-15 and won the NJAC title.
 
In a stellar pitchers' duel between Yard and Rutgers-Camden junior Brittany Scott (Buena, NJ/Buena Regional), both hurlers matched shutout frames until the bottom of the fifth, when the Cougars broke through with an unearned run. With two outs, Yard singled to left field. Sophomore second baseman Emily Sabo (Rahway, NJ/Rahway) followed with a bunt that was thrown away down the right field line, allowing Yard to score all the way from first.
 
Kean added an insurance run in the sixth inning following a leadoff double by senior designated player Alexis D'Aloisio (Tolland, CT/Tolland). She advanced to third on a single by freshman catcher Katie Garbarino (Saddle Brook, NJ/Saddle Brook) and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by sophomore third baseman Amanda Berezny (Washington, NJ/Warren Hills).
 
Down to their last three outs, the Scarlet Raptors opened the top of the seventh inning with back-to-back singles by Scott and junior third baseman Katie Larson (Delran, NJ/Delran). Freshman catcher Samantha Sandridge (Friendswood, TX/Friendswood) moved up the runners with a sacrifice and junior center fielder Lindsay Day (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) walked to load the bases. Yard wriggled out of the jam with a line out to first base and a grounder to first, raising her record to 18-6. She allowed one walk and five hits, while striking out seven.
 
Scott (16-12) suffered a tough shutout defeat for the second game in the NJAC playoffs after losing 1-0 to Rowan on Tuesday. Scott allowed seven hits and two walks, while striking out three. She allowed two runs, one of them unearned.
 
Garbarino, who went 2-for-3, was the only player in the game with multiple hits.
 
The lone Scarlet Raptor with an extra-base hit was senior left fielder Devon Welsh (Maple Shade, NJ/Audubon), who went 1-for-2, including a third-inning double. Welsh finished her final collegiate season as the Scarlet Raptors' leading hitter with a .393 batting average.