Box Score
MAHWAH, NJ – The Rowan University softball team defeated Farmingdale State, 7-1 on the first day of the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. The Profs are the third seed while the Rams are seeded sixth. The first round of the national tournament, Thursday-Sunday, May 7-10, is being held at Ramapo College.
Rowan (33-10) will play the winner of the #2 William Paterson University and #7 Muhlenberg College game on Friday at 5 p.m. Farmingdale State (32-5) meets the losing team at noon. Earlier on Thursday, #1 Messiah College shutout #8 College of Staten Island, 4-0 and #4 Moravian College won 4-1 over #5 Eastern Connecticut State.
The national softball tournament is double elimination. The winner of the first round at Mahwah will advance to the finals of the NCAA Division III Championship. The finals are Friday-Tuesday, May 15-19 at the Montclair State University Softball Stadium.
Right-hander Amanda Singer (so. Monmouth Jct., NJ/E. Brunswick) was the winning pitcher in relief. Singer (14-5) went six innings, scattered five hits and did not allow a run. She struck out nine batters. Righty Hope Zino took the loss on the mound. Zino (15-2) gave up seven hits and totaled 10 strikeouts.
First baseman Nicki Veneziano (fr. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) paced the Profs with two hits (four at bats), one RBI, two runs scored and a triple. Center fielder Kristina Brenner (sr. Vineland, NJ/Vineland) went two for three at the plate with two runs scored. Catcher Steph Taraschi (jr. Mt. Ephraim, NJ/Audubon) contributed with two hits (three at bats), one RBI, one run scored and a double. Second baseman Jenna DiDonato (jr. Hamilton, NJ/Steinert), third baseman Julie Leskanic (fr. West Milford, NJ/West Milford) and designated player Ashley Landi (so. Vineland, NJ/Vineland) all had one RBI. Shortstop Ashley Minch (fr. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Mem.) and DiDonato each scored one run.
For Farmingdale, center fielder Kaitlin Keenan was two for four with one run scored and a double. Left fielder Rebecca Richman, shortstop Nicole Farber, designated player Jessica Dautner and second baseman Lauren Poplawski registered one hit apiece.
Rowan trailed 1-0 after the first inning. In the second, Landi’s sacrifice fly brought home Taraschi who started the bottom half with a walk. Leskanic also walked and right fielder Heidi Smith (jr. Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) reached first on an error to load the bases.
The Profs took the lead with one run in the third. With two outs, Minch was hit by a pitch and she was doubled in by Taraschi. Rowan tacked on three runs in the fifth. Brenner scored on a bunt single by DiDonato and Veneziano came home on an error. DiDonato crossed the plate on a fielder’s choice with Leskanic earning the RBI. In the sixth, Veneziano plated Brenner with a triple. Brenner had gotten on base with a single and Veneziano ended up scoring on an error. Farmingdale’s lone run came in the first inning. Keenan lead off with a double to center fielder. Richman was hit by a pitch and Walker followed with a walk. A wild pitch scored Keenan.
This is Rowan’s 18th appearance and second straight in the NCAA tournament. The softball team has advanced to the national finals three times and finished fourth in 1994 and 1993. Farmingdale State is making its first trip to the national tournament. The Rams were an automatic qualifier as the Skyline Conference champions.
The schedule for the first round games are:
Thursday, May 7
Game 1: #1 Messiah College 4, #8 College of Staten Island 0
Game 2: #4 Moravian College 4, vs. #5 Eastern Connecticut State 1
Game 3: #3 Rowan University 7, vs. #6 Farmingdale State 1
Game 4: #2 William Paterson University (32-7) vs. #7 Muhlenberg College (19-16), 6 p.m.
Friday, May 8
Game 5: #8 College of Staten Island (23-13) vs. #5 Eastern Connecticut State (25-12), 10 a.m.
Game 6: #6 Farmingdale State (32-5) vs. loser of game 4, noon
Game 7: #1 Messiah College (36-4) vs. #4 Moravian College (35-9), 2 p.m.
Game 8: #3 Rowan University (33-10) vs. winner of game 4, 4 p.m.
Saturday, May 9
Game 9: winner of game 6 vs. loser of game 7, 10 a.m.
Game 10: winner of game 5 vs. loser of game 8, noon
Game 11: winner of game 7 vs. winner of game 8, 2 p.m.
Game 12: winner of game 9 vs. winner of game 10, 4 p.m.
Sunday, May 10
Game 13: winner of game 12 vs. loser of game 11, noon
Game 14: winner of game 11 vs. winner of game 13, 2 p.m.
Monday, May 11
Game 15: necessary only if winner of game 13 defeats winner of game 11 in game 14, TBA
There are 59 teams that are competing in the NCAA Division III Softball Championship Tournament. Thirty-seven conferences received automatic bids and five independents were selected for the championship. The 17 remaining schools were selected on an at-large basis from the automatic qualifying conferences and the remaining independent institutions. There are five seven team first round sites and three eight team first round sites.
