GLASSBORO, NJ – The Montclair State University softball team won two games over Rowan University, 3-0 and 7-6 to clinch the number one seed for the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament.
Montclair State has a 34-4 record with a final 16-2 NJAC mark. The Red Hawks are ranked second in the NCAA East Region and sixth in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association Poll. Rowan is 21-15 overall and 9-9 in the conference. The Profs have to wait until Sunday night for the remainder of the conference games to be played to see if they advance to the conference tournament.
Right hander Carolyn McCrea (jr. Wharton, NJ/Jefferson Twp.) earned both wins on the mound for the Red Hawks. In the first game, she only gave up two hits for her 11th shutout on the season. Shortstop Jennifer Jimenez (so. Linden, NJ/Linden) recorded a two run homer. It was her 11th home run on the year. Third baseman Jackie Ferranti (jr. Bergenfield, NJ/Bergenfield) went two for three with one run scored.
Jimenez’s two run shot put MSU on the scoreboard in the fifth inning. She scored center fielder Maureen Shockley (jr. Magnolia, NJ/Triton Reg.) who got on base with a fielder’s choice. In the seventh, Ferranti tripled and came home on Shockley’s sacrifice fly.
In the second game, McCrea (26-3) pitched 3.1 innings in relief. She gave up three hits and had four strikeouts. Designated player Kelly Karp (so. Edison, NJ/Edison) went three for four with one RBI. Catcher Megan Tantum (sr. Ewing, NJ/Ewing) and Shockley each contributed with two hits while left fielder Kelly Nance (fr. Marlboro, NJ/Marlboro) had two RBIs. Ferranti had a solo home run.
For Rowan, designated player Jen Lake (sr. Carneys Point, NJ/Penns Grove) went three for three with two doubles, two RBIs and one run scored. Third baseman Kristin Wallace (jr. Glassboro, NJ/Washington Twp.) added two hits (four at bats) while catcher Kim Ryan (sr. Monmouth Jct., NJ/S. Brunswick) had one RBI. Center fielder Kristina Brenner (so. Vineland, NJ/Vineland) hit a solo home run, the first of her career.
The Profs went up 6-5 in the top of the seventh inning. With one out, Lake had a double. She advanced to third on Ryan’s single and continued home on an error. In the bottom half, second baseman Megan Durkin (fr. West Orange, NJ/West Orange) singled in the tying run that was scored by pinch runner Ashley Lustenberger (so. River Edge, NJ/River Dell Reg.). Jimenez recorded the winning RBI with a hit to right center field, scoring Durkin.
MSU had a 3-0 lead after the first inning. Shockley crossed home plate on Nance’s ground out. Karp had a RBI single followed first baseman Amanda Livsey’s (fr. Congers, NY/Clarkstown N.) single that scored a run. Brenner had her home run in the third inning.
Rowan went ahead 5-3 in the fourth. Right fielder Heidi Smith (fr. Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) led off with a double and later scored on an error. Shortstop Sarah Carangelo (jr. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) also came home on an error with first baseman Jamie Assini (sr. Deptford, NJ/East Brunswick) at the plate. Lake had a two RBI single that plated left fielder Stacy Haas (sr. Florence, NJ/Florence Twp. Mem.) and Assini
The Red Hawks started their come back with one run in the fifth and sixth innings. Ferranti had her home run in the fifth, her sixth this season. In the sixth, Nance singled in Jimenez.
The first round of the NJAC Championship Tournament is on Tuesday, May 1. The double elimination tournament continues Friday-Sunday, May 4-6 at Montclair State. The conference champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.
