Box Score
EWING, NJ – The Kean University softball team scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat Rowan University, 4-3 in the second round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament. The conference tournament continues on Saturday and Sunday, May 8 and 9 at The College of New Jersey.
On Saturday, the fifth seed Kean University (27-14) plays the sixth seed Richard Stockton College (23-13) at 10 a.m. At noon, the top seed The College of New Jersey (31-7) meets the third seed Rowan (27-12). The loser of the Kean/Richard Stockton game faces the winner of the TCNJ/Rowan game at 2 p.m.
In the other second round games, The College of New Jersey defeated the second seed Ramapo College, 4-1. Richard Stockton won 4-1 over the fourth seed William Paterson University. It was the second loss of the double elimination tournament for Ramapo (27-15) and William Paterson (26-15-1).
Righty Cassie Shotwell (sr. Dunellen, NJ/Dunellen) recorded the game winning RBI and also had the win on the mound. Shotwell (15-6) scattered eight hits and gave up three earned runs. She totaled eight strikeouts. Right-hander Jamie Minix (so. Clarksboro, NJ/Kingsway Reg.) took the loss. Minix (17-6) allowed six hits and four earned runs.
The Cougars trailed 3-2 going into the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, designated player Allison Thibault (sr. Garfield, NJ/Garfield) walked . After the second out, right fielder Allison Lizzi (sr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill W.) knocked in Thibault with a double to left field. First baseman Katie Yard (jr. Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) was intentionally walked. Shotwell followed with a single to center field that ended the game and Lizzi came home for the winning run.
Lizzi totaled two hits (four at bats), one RBI and one run scored. Yard contributed with two hits in three at bats and one RBI. Center fielder Lindsay Kennedy (jr. Parsippany, NJ/Parsippany) added one hit (three at bats) and two runs scored. Shotwell chipped in with one hit and two RBIs.
For Rowan, catcher Steph Taraschi (sr. Mt. Ephraim, NJ/Audubon) collected two hits in two at bats, one run scored, one RBI and a double. Center fielder Nicolina Veneziano (so. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) registered one hit (four at bats) and two RBIs. Right fielder Heidi Smith (sr. Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) and second baseman Jenna DiDonato (sr. Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) each added one hit (four at bats) and scored one run.
Left fielder Casey Roselle (jr. Sparta, NJ/Sparta) chipped in with two hits and shortstop Ashley Minch (so. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Mem.) had one.
The Cougars got on the scoreboard first with one run in the first inning. Kennedy walked and went to second on a fielder’s choice. Yard singled to load the bases. Shotwell reached base on a fielder’s choice and Kennedy came home. The Profs took the lead with three runs in the top of the third. Taraschi drove in Smith with a single down the left field line. Veneziano recorded a two RBI single, scoring DiDonato and Taraschi.
Kean pulled within one (3-2) after scoring one run in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Kennedy and Lizzi had back-to-back singles up the middle. Yard followed with a single to right center field that plated Kennedy.
The NJAC Champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. Below are the results and schedule for the conference softball championship tournament.
Tue., May 4 – NJAC First Round Results (at higher seed)
Game 1: #6 Richard Stockton 2, #1 The College of New Jersey 1
Game 2: #5 Kean University 2, #2 Ramapo College 1 (8 inn.)
Game 3: #3 Rowan University 3, #4 Wm. Paterson University 2
Fri., May 7 – NJAC Second Round Results (TCNJ Lions’ Park)
Game 4: #1 The College of New Jersey 4, #2 Ramapo College 1 (Ramapo eliminated.)
Game 5: #6 Richard Stockton 4, #4 Wm. Paterson University 1
(Wm. Paterson eliminated.)
Game 6: #5 Kean University 4, #3 Rowan University 3
Sat., May 8 (TCNJ Lions’ Park)
Game 7: #5 Kean University (27-14) vs. #6 Richard Stockton (23-13), 10 a.m.
Game 8: #1 The College of New Jersey (31-7) vs. #3 Rowan University (27-12), noon
Game 9: loser game 7 vs. winner game 8, 2 p.m.
Sun., May 9 (TCNJ Lions’ Park)
Game 10: winner game 7 vs. winner game 9, 11 a.m.
Game 11: same teams as game 10 (if necessary), TBA
