Box Score
MAHWAH, NJ – The Rowan University softball team fell to William Paterson University, 2-1 on the second day of the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. The first round of the national tournament continues Saturday-Sunday, May 9-10 at Ramapo College.
#3 Rowan (33-11) plays #5 Eastern Connecticut State (26-12) on Saturday at noon. #2 William Paterson (34-7) faces #1 Messiah College (37-4) at 2 p.m. The winner of the Rowan/Eastern Connecticut State game will play again at 4 p.m. against the winner of the #6 Farmingdale State/#4 Moravian College game from 10 a.m.
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.
After five scoreless innings, William Paterson went up 2-0 in the top of the sixth. Third baseman Meghan Reilly (sr. Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) reached base on a catcher’s interference. With two outs, designated player Jenna Vitale (so. Kenilworth, NJ/David Brearley) recorded a two run homer to left field. It was Vitale’s third home run of the season.
In the bottom of the seventh, Rowan scored its run. Third baseman Julie Leskanic (fr. West Milford, NJ/West Milford) singled to right field. Designated player Ashley Landi (so. Vineland, NJ/Vineland) got on base because of an error and Leskanic scored. Landi also advanced to third on the error. There were two outs and the Pioneers sealed the victory with a fly out to center field.
Both teams ended the game with three hits. Vitale was one for three with two RBIs, one run scored and a home run. Catcher Nicole Jimmerson (so. North Bergen, NJ/High Tech) and right fielder Jillian Mulderig (so. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) both had one hit in three at bats.
Right-hander Michele Graham (fr. Hawthorne, NJ/Hawthorne) was the winning pitcher. Graham (15-5) went seven innings and gave up one run that was unearned. Righty Amanda Singer (so. Monmouth Jct., NJ/E. Brunswick) pitched a complete game. Singer (14-6) struck out seven batters.
Leskanic was one for three with one run scored. Right fielder Heidi Smith (jr. Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) contributed with one hit (three at bats). Center fielder Kristina Brenner (sr. Vineland, NJ/Vineland) added one hit in two trips to the plate
Earlier in the day, William Paterson defeated #7 Muhlenberg College, 9-2. The game was suspended on Thursday evening on account of darkness. #5 Eastern Connecticut State eliminated #8 College of Staten Island with a 7-0 shutout. Muhlenberg was knocked out of the tournament by #6 Farmingdale State with a 4-1 victory. #1 Messiah College gave #4 Moravian College its first loss in the tournament with a 3-0 win.
The schedule and results 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) - suspended
Friday, May 8
Game 4: #2 William Paterson University 9, #7 Muhlenberg College 2
Game 5: #5 Eastern Connecticut State 7, #8 College of Staten Island 0 (CSI eliminated)
Game 6: #6 Farmingdale State 4, #7 Muhlenberg College 1 (Muhlenberg eliminated)
Game 7: #1 Messiah College 3, #4 Moravian College 0
Game 8: #2 William Paterson University 2, #3 Rowan University 1
Saturday, May 9
Game 9: #6 Farmingdale State (33-5) vs. #4 Moravian College (35-10), 10 a.m.
Game 10: #5 Eastern Connecticut State (26-12) vs. #3 Rowan University (33-11), noon
Game 11: #1 Messiah College (37-4) vs. #2 William Paterson University (34-7), 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.
