Game 1 - Box Score
Game 2 - Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University softball team swept Gwynedd-Mercy College, 14-0 and 11-0 in five innings on Tuesday afternoon.
Both games ended after five innings because of the eight run rule. Rowan is 14-2 overall with a seven game win streak. Gwynedd-Mercy has a 6-3 record.
In the opener, Jackie Sasko (jr. Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) pitched a perfect game. Sasko (7-1) went five scoreless innings and did not give up a hit or a walk. She recorded 11 strikeouts in her fifth shutout of the season. Sasko also had one hit (three at bats), a double, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Right fielder Heidi Smith (so. Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) paced the Profs with three hits (three at bats), two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored. Catcher Stephanie Taraschi (so. Mt. Ephraim, NJ/Audubon) contributed with three RBIs and scored two runs. Second baseman Lauren Navarro (sr. West Milford, NJ/West Milford) and left fielder Amanda Brown (sr. Audubon, NJ/Audubon) each added two RBIs.
Rowan jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning. Smith scored the first run on an error. Sasko doubled in two runs and later scored on an error. Brown had a RBI that brought home Navarro. The Profs racked up nine more runs in the second. With two outs, Smith doubled and third baseman Kristin Wallace (sr. Glassboro, NJ/Washington Twp.) walked. Taraschi hit a double to left center field, scoring Smith and Wallace. Sasko got on base with an error that moved Taraschi to third. Shortstop Sarah Carangelo (sr. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) reached base on an error and Taraschi scored. Navarro doubled in two runs and Brown followed with a double that scored one. Brown crossed the plate on a center fielder Kristina Brenner’s (jr. Vineland, NJ/Vineland) single and Smith drove in two runs with a double.
In the night cap, Brianna Seckinger (fr. Churchville, PA/Council Rock S.) got the win on the mound. Seckinger (3-0) went three innings and only allowed one hit. Amanda Riegel (sr. Millville, NJ/Sacred Heart) pitched the last two innings and struck out four batters.
Smith again went three for three with two doubles. She had three RBIs and scored one run. Left fielder Casey Roselle (fr. Sparta, NJ/Sparta), first baseman Jenna DiDonato (so. Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) and Carangelo had two hits apiece. DiDonato also compiled two RBIs along with Brenner.
Rowan got on the scoreboard with seven runs in the second inning. DiDonato and Brenner both walked with the bases loaded and the Profs were up 2-0. Smith drove in three runs with a double and scored on a passed ball. Catcher Melanie Sura (jr. Linden, NJ/Linden) had a RBI double.
Rowan went on to add one run in the third inning and three in the fourth. DiDonato got to first with a single and later came home on a ground out in the third. She singled in a run in the fourth inning. Brenner followed with a RBI single and Navarro scored with a bases loaded walk by right fielder Loren Pashley (so. Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon).
Rowan is home again on Thursday, March 27 against Haverford College at 3 p.m.
