Box Score ALFRED, NY – The Rowan University softball team defeated Penn State Behrend, 2-0 in the first round of the NCAA Regional on Friday.  The regional is at Alfred University, May 8-10.
 
Rowan (37-6) plays Alfred (36-4) on May 9 at 10 a.m.  In the other first round game, Alfred won 4-3 over Lebanon Valley College.  In the loser's bracket, Penn State Behrend (25-15) meets Lebanon Valley (17-23) at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.  The national softball tournament is double elimination. 
 
Both of the Profs' runs came in the bottom of the fourth inning.  Designated player Morgan Smith (fr. Millsboro, DE/Sussex Central) walked and was replaced by pinch runner Rosalie Hood (fr. Egg Harbor City, NJ/Cedar Creek).  With two outs, pinch hitter Sara Finnegan (so. South Brunswick, NJ/South Brunswick) was hit by a pitch.  Pinch hitter Amanda Toomer (sr. Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) had a single to load the bases.  Right fielder Sammy Vradenburg (so. Park Ridge, NJ/Park Ridge) took over for Toomer at first.  Catcher Alyssa Sims (jr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill W.) singled, scoring Hood and Finnegan.
 
Right-hander Beth Ann Hyland (jr. East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) was the winning pitcher.  She (18-4) threw five innings and only allowed three hits.  Hyland struck out eight batters.  She pitched until the fourth inning and was replaced by righty Allison Nolan (jr. Middletown, NJ/Middletown S.).  She went two innings and gave up two hits.  Hyland came back in the seventh after second baseman Leah Griffin (sr. Springboro, PA/Conneaut Valley) hit a double.  She then recorded three straight strikeouts to end the game.  Rachel Miller (so. North East, PA/North East) had the loss.  She (14-5) surrendered two hits and two earned runs.    
 
For the Lions, catcher Sarah Blagg (fr. Cranberry Twp., PA/Seneca Valley) was two-for-four.  Shortstop Alexa Bupp (fr. Warren, PA/Warren) contributed with a double.
 
The winner from each regional advances to the Super Regional, Friday-Saturday, May 15-16.  The NCAA Division III Championship Tournament is scheduled for Thursday-Tuesday, May 21-26 in Salem, VA.
 
Rowan received an at-large bid to the national tournament.  This is the Profs' 23rd appearance and fifth straight in the NCAAs.
 
The NCAA Regional schedule is below.
 
Friday, May 8
Game 1: #2 Alfred University 4, #3 Lebanon Valley College 3
Game 2: #1 Rowan University 2,  #4 Penn State Behrend 0
 
Saturday, May 9
Game 3: #2 Alfred University vs. #1 Rowan University, 10 a.m.
Game 4: #3 Lebanon Valley College vs. #4 Penn State Behrend, 12:30 p.m.
Game 5: winner of game 4 vs. loser of game 3, 3 p.m.
 
Sunday, May 10
Game 6: winner of game 3 vs. winner of game 5, noon
Game 7: same teams as game 6 (if necessary), 2:30 p.m.

There are 62 teams that are competing in the NCAA Division III Softball Championship Tournament. There are 14 four-team regional sites and two three-team regionals.  Forty-two conferences received automatic bids (Pool A) and two independents were selected for the championship from Pool B. The 18 remaining schools were selected on an at-large basis from the automatic qualifying conferences and the remaining independent institutions in Pool B.