Box Score
MAHWAH, NJ – The Rowan University softball team had a 3-1 victory over Eastern Connecticut State University in an elimination game of the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament First Round on Saturday. The first round is being held at Ramapo College.
Rowan (34-11), the third seed, advances to play sixth seeded Farmingdale State College at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Earlier in the day, Farmingdale State beat the four seed Moravian College, 3-1 in eight innings. Rowan defeated Farmingdale State, 7-1 on Thursday which was the first day of the tournament. Eastern Connecticut State ends the season with a 26-13 record.
Right-hander Jackie Sasko (sr. Groveville, NJ/Steinert) pitched four scoreless innings for the victory. Sasko (20-5) scattered three hits. Righty Amanda Singer (so. Monmouth Jct., NJ/E. Brunswick) was on the mound for the final three innings to pick up her first save of the season. Right-hander Molly Rathbun took the loss for Eastern Connecticut State. Rathbun (16-7) went 5.2 innings, allowing three runs, two earned.
The Profs were led by center fielder Kristina Brenner (sr. Vineland, NJ/Vineland) with one hit (three at bats) and one RBI. Pinch hitter Jamie Parks (jr. Brick, NJ/Brick Twp.) added one hit (one at bat) and one RBI. Designated player Ashley Landi (so. Vineland, NJ/Vineland) scored two runs and first baseman Nicki Veneziano (fr. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) crossed the plate once. Shortstop Ashley Minch (fr. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Mem.) posted one hit (two at bats) and one RBI.
For Eastern Connecticut State, right fielder Priscia Alicea went three for three with one run scored and a double. Left fielder Katie Dinihanian contributed with two hits (four at bats) and one RBI. Shortstop Kim Church registered two hits in two at bats.
Rowan took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Veneziano led off with a walk and went to second on a wild pitch. She moved to third on a passed ball and came home on a successful suicide squeeze by Minch.
The Profs tacked on one run in the fourth. Landi walked and advanced to second on a passed ball. Parks followed with a single to left field that plated Landi.
With two outs in the top of sixth, Brenner ripped a bases loaded single up the middle, scoring Landi. Eastern Connecticut State scored one run in the bottom of the seventh, but Rowan held on. Dinihanian drove in Alicea with a single to left center field.
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 3, #4 Moravian College 1 (Moravian eliminated)
Game 10:#3 Rowan University 3, #5 Eastern Connecticut State 1 (ECS eliminated)
Game 11: #1 Messiah College 4, #2 William Paterson University 2
Game 12: #6 Farmingdale State (34-5) vs. #3 Rowan University (34-11), 4 p.m.
Sunday, May 10
Game 13: winner of game 12 vs. #2 William Paterson University (34-8), noon
Game 14: #1 Messiah College (38-4) 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
