Game 1 - Box Score
Game 2 - Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University softball team split a conference doubleheader with New Athletic Conference (NJAC) opponent Kean University on Saturday. The Profs won the first game, 3-0 and the Cougars took the second, 5-0.
Rowan has an 18-7 overall record and a 6-2 conference mark. Kean is 17-11 overall and 4-6 in the NJAC.
Right-hander Jamie Minix (so. Clarksboro, NJ/Kingsway Reg.) went the distance on the mound for the win in the first game. Minix (10-3) only gave up two hits and she struck out five batters. Righty Courtney Smyth (jr. Abington, PA/Abington) threw six innings in the loss. Smyth (7-7) totaled six strikeouts.
Center fielder Nicolina Veneziano (so. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) led the Profs with three hits (four at bats), one RBI, one run scored and a triple. Right fielder Heidi Smith (sr. Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) contributed with two hits in three at bats and one RBI. Second baseman Jenna DiDonato (sr. Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) collected two doubles, one RBI and one run scored. Shortstop Ashley Minch (so. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Mem.) added one hit in two at bats and scored one run.
Designated player Katie Yard (jr. Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) had both of the hits for the Cougars. Yard was two for three at the plate.
Rowan got on the scoreboard with one run in the bottom of the third inning. Veneziano led off with a triple and came home on Smith’s single. The Profs added two more runs in the fourth. With one out, Minch singled to left field. DiDonato followed with a double to center field, scoring Minch. Veneziano knocked in DiDonato with a single through the left side.
In the second contest, right-hander Cassie Shotwell (sr. Dunellen, NJ/Dunnellen) scattered five hits and registered six strikeouts in the win (10-4). Lefty Michelle Black (fr. West Deptford, NJ/West Deptford) took the loss on the mound. Black (6-4) threw five innings and gave up five unearned runs.
Kean designated player Allison Thibault (sr. Garfield, NJ/Garfield) was two for two with one run scored. Third baseman Courtney Melchionna (fr. Linden, NJ/Linden) contributed with one hit (three at bats) and one RBI. Second baseman Melissa Dietrich (sr. Carteret, NJ/Carteret) added one hit in two at bats and one run scored. Center fielder Lindsay Kennedy (jr. Parsippany, NJ/Parsippany) and right fielder Allison Lizzi (sr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill W.) each scored one run.
All of the Cougars’ runs came in the bottom of the fifth inning. Thibault started with a bunt single. Dietrich followed with a sac bunt attempt but reached first on an error and Thibault moved to second. Left fielder Katie Schuh (fr. Mt. Holly, NJ/Rancocas Valley) advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt. Kennedy got on base because of an error and Thibault came home. Lizzi reached first on an error. Yard made it to first on an error and advanced to third. Dietrich, Kennedy and Lizzi all scored. Melchionna plated Yard with a single up the middle.
Rowan hosts conference opponent Rutgers-Camden on Sunday, April 18 at 1 p.m.
