Box Score
MAHWAH, NJ – The Rowan University softball team shutout Farmingdale State, 3-0 in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament First Round on Saturday. The first round continues on Sunday at Ramapo College.
#3 Rowan (35-11) will play #2 William Paterson University (34-8) at noon in an elimination game on Sunday. The winner meets #1 Messiah College (38-4) at 2 p.m. Earlier in the day, Rowan knocked #5 Eastern Connecticut State out of the tournament with a 3-1 victory. Messiah handed William Paterson its first loss, 4-2 in the first round. Farmingdale State ends the season with a 34-6 record. On Friday, William Paterson defeated Rowan, 2-1 which was the Profs’ loss in the tournament.
Right-hander Jackie Sasko (sr. Groveville, NJ/Steinert) pitched a complete game for her 13th shutout on the year. Sasko (21-5) only gave up three hits and she struck out seven batters. Righty Hope Zino had the loss on the mound in 4.1 relief innings. Zino (16-3) allowed five hits and three earned runs.
Rowan totaled 10 hits. Second baseman Jenna DiDonato (jr. Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) was one for three with two RBIs and a double. Shortstop Ashley Minch (fr. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Mem.) contributed with two hits (four at bats) and one run scored. Catcher Steph Taraschi (jr. Mt. Ephraim, NJ/Audubon) collected two hits in four at bats, one RBI and a double. Center fielder Kristina Brenner (sr. Vineland, NJ/Vineland) and third baseman Julie Leskanic (fr. West Milford, NJ/West Milford) each added one hit (three at bats) and one run scored.
For the Rams, catcher Arielle Morelli went two for three with a double. Designated player Kristina Cirillo had one hit in three trips to the plate.
The Profs were up 2-0 after the fourth inning. DiDonato recorded a two RBI double to center field that scored Leskanic and Brenner. Leskanic and Brenner both got on base with a single. The final run came in the top of the seventh. With one out, Minch singled and she came home on Taraschi’s double down the left field line.
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: #3 Rowan University 3, #6 Farmingdale State 0 (Farmingdale eliminated)
Sunday, May 10
Game 13: #3 Rowan University (35-11) 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
