Game 1 - Box Score
Game 2 - Box Score
WAYNE, NJ – The Rowan University softball team split a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) doubleheader at William Paterson University on Saturday. The Pioneers won the first game, 2-1 in eight innings and the Profs had a 3-0 shutout in the second. It was the last conference doubleheader of the regular season.
Rowan has a 26-11 record and a 12-6 NJAC mark. William Paterson is 26-13-1 overall and 11-7 in the conference. The Profs are the third seed in the NJAC Championship Tournament and they will host the fourth seed William Paterson on Tuesday, May 4 at 4 p.m. in the first round. The remainder of the conference tournament will be held at the top seed The College of New Jersey on Friday, May 7-Sunday, May 9.
Right-hander Michele Graham (so. Hawthorne, NJ/Hawthorne) was the winning pitcher in the first game. Graham (15-9) only allowed three hits and one earned run. Righty Jamie Minix (so. Clarksboro, NJ/Kingsway Reg.) took the loss. Minix (15-5) allowed four hits and two runs, one was earned. She struck out four batters.
Center fielder Christina Zippler (sr. Blackwood, NJ/Washington Twp.), first baseman Jenna Vitale (jr. Kenilworth, NJ/David Brearley), third baseman Casey Sierra (sr. Ringwood, NJ/Lakewood Reg.) and catcher Nicole Jimmerson (jr. North Bergen, NJ/High Tech) all had one hit for the Pioneers. Left fielder Raquel Roder (so. Hoboken, NJ/Hoboken) and second baseman Lindsey Nadolny (jr. Belford, NJ/Middletown N.) each scored one run.
For Rowan, second baseman Jenna DiDonato (sr. Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) was one for four with one RBI, one run scored and a home run. Catcher Steph Taraschi (sr. Mt. Ephraim, NJ/Audubon) and shortstop Ashley Minch (so. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Mem.) had one hit apiece.
Both teams scored one run in the sixth inning. With one out, DiDonato record a solo shot to left center field. It was her first home run of the season. In the bottom half, Zippler tied the score for the Pioneers with a RBI single. She knocked in Nadolny who got on base with a walk.
In the eighth, Roder was intentionally walked and she advanced to second on another intentional walk. Zippler reached on a fielder’s choice and Roder moved to third. Roder scored the winning run on an error.
Minix (16-5) scattered three hits for the shutout victory in the second contest. It was her ninth shutout on the year. Right-hander Jaclyn Masterson (fr. Park Ridge, NJ/Park Ridge) was the losing pitcher. In 1.1 innings, Materson (3-2) allowed five hits and three earned runs.
DiDonato was two for four with one run scored. Center fielder Nicolina Veneziano (so. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) contributed with a double, two RBIs and one run scored. Third baseman Julie Leskanic (so. West Milford, NJ/West Milford) registered two hits (three at bats) and one RBI. Taraschi added one hit (three at bats) and scored one run. Left fielder Casey Roselle (jr. Sparta, NJ/Sparta) and Minch each had a hit.
For the Pioneers, shortstop Lacey Santone (sr. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield), Roder and Vitale tallied one hit apiece. All three of Rowan’s runs came in the bottom of the first inning. DiDonato and Taraschi each reached base with a single. Veneziano’s double to left field scored DiDonato and Taraschi. Leskanic hit a single up the middle that plated Veneziano.
