Game 1 - Box Score
Game 2 - Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University softball team won two games over conference opponent Richard Stockton College on Friday. The Profs came back in the bottom of the eighth inning to win the opener, 5-4 and they had a 9-1 victory in the second.
Rowan is 24-6 overall and 11-1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. This week, the Profs are ranked first in the NCAA Atlantic Region. Richard Stockton has a 21-10 record with a 4-7 conference mark.
In the first game, right-hander Jackie Sasko (sr. Groveville, NJ/Steinert) pitched a complete game for the win. Sasko (14-2) allowed three runs, while striking out eight batters. Righty Kaitlyn Corica (jr. Iselin, NJ/JFK) took the loss for the Ospreys. Corica (8-4) tossed 7.1 innings, surrendering four runs.
Catcher Steph Taraschi (jr. Mt. Ephraim, NJ/Audubon) recorded a leadoff home run in the bottom of the seventh that tied the game at three. Stockton went up 4-3 with one run in the eighth. First baseman Kelly Dodd (jr. Linwood, NJ/Mainland Reg.) had a sacrifice fly that brought home right fielder Katelyn Derewecki (fr. Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough). In the bottom of the eighth, pinch hitter Lisa Benedetti (so. Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights) advanced shortstop Ashley Minch (fr. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Mem.) to third with a sacrifice bunt. Center fielder Kristina Brenner (sr. Vineland, NJ/Vineland) walked and stole second base. Right fielder Heidi Smith (jr. Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) doubled to center fielder, scoring Minch and Brenner.
Rowan went ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning. Smith walked with the bases loaded, bringing first baseman Nicki Veneziano (fr. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) home. Richard Stockton answered with three runs in the top of the third. Shortstop Samantha Horner (sr. Newfield, NJ/Buena Reg.) knocked in third baseman Joey Afflitto (fr. Brick, NJ/Brick) with a single. Derewecki scored on a wild pitch and Dodd’s single plated Horner.
Smith went one for three with three RBIs and a double. Veneziano added one hit (one at bat) and two runs scored. Minch was one for three with one RBI and one run scored. For the Ospreys, Horner compiled two hits (four at bats), one RBI and one run scored. Dodd registered one hit (three at bats) and two RBIs. Derewecki scored twice, while Afflitto crossed the plate once.
In the nightcap, Rowan right-hander Amanda Singer (so. Monmouth Jct., NJ/E. Brunswick) went the distance. Singer (10-4) scattered five hits and gave up one run. Righty Jamie Gasko (fr. Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) tossed 4.2 innings, allowing five runs for the Ospreys.
Second baseman Jenna DiDonato (jr. Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) totaled four hits (five at bats), three runs scored, a double and a triple. Taraschi went two for four with two RBIs. Third baseman Julie Leskanic (fr. West Milford, NJ/West Milford) chipped in with one hit (four at bats), three RBIs, one run scored and a triple. Veneziano was three for three with one RBI and one run scored, while Minch had two hits (three at bats) and scored once. Smith compiled two hits in four trips to the plate and one run scored. Designated player Jamie Parks (jr. Brick, NJ/Brick Twp.) posted one hit (one at bat), two RBIs and one run scored.
Afflitto went one for three with one RBI for the Ospreys. Second baseman Jaime Heller (sr. Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn) added one hit (two at bats) and one run scored.
Rowan took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Taraschi’s single down the right field line knocked in Smith. Veneziano followed with a single up the middle that plated DiDonato. In the top of the fifth, DiDonato led off with a double. Veneziano walked and DiDonato moved to third on a wild pitch. Leskanic drove Veneziano and DiDonato in with a triple to right field. Minch added a RBI single.
Rowan tacked on three runs in the top of the sixth. Brenner scored on a fielder’s choice. DiDonato came home on Taraschi’s single and Parks crossed the plate on a fielder’s choice. Richard Stockton got its only run in the bottom half. Heller reached base on a bunt single. Afflitto’s single to right field knocked in Heller. In the seventh, Parks recorded a RBI single.
Rowan is home again on Saturday, April 18 against Rutgers-Newark at 1 p.m.
