TCNJ Box Score
Stockton Box Score
EWING, NJ – The Rowan University softball team was knocked out of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament by Richard Stockton College, 3-2 on Saturday.
Prior, Rowan stayed alive with a 2-1 victory over The College of New Jersey. In the first game on Saturday, the fifth seed Kean University defeated the sixth seed Richard Stockton, 6-2. TCNJ (31-8) was the top seed in the conference tournament while Rowan (28-13) was seeded third.
The double elimination tournament concludes with the championship round on Sunday at The College of New Jersey. Kean (28-14) plays Richard Stockton (24-14) at 11 a.m. and if necessary a second game will follow right after.
Stockton’s Jamie Gasko (so. Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) was the winning pitcher against Rowan. Gasko (11-3) gave up four hits and two earned runs. She had five strikeouts. Right-hander Jamie Minix (so. Clarksboro, NJ/Kingsway Reg.) took the loss. In 4.2 relief innings, she (18-7) threw six strikeouts and allowed one earned run.
The Ospreys were led by third baseman Danielle Accardi (so. East Brunswick, NJ/Mount St. Mary) with two hits (four at bats), one RBI and two doubles. Center fielder Katelyn Derewecki (so. Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) contributed with one hit (three at bats) and the winning RBI. Shortstop Joey Afflitto (so. Brick, NJ/Brick), catcher Brooke Shetter (sr. Atco, NJ/Hammonton) and right fielder Jessica Sneddon (sr. Nutley, NJ/Nutley) all had one hit and one run scored.
Left fielder Casey Roselle (jr. Sparta, NJ/Sparta) was one for two with one RBI for the Profs. Third baseman Julie Leskanic (so. West Milford, NJ/West Milford) tallied one hit (three at bats) and one run scored. Right fielder Heidi Smith (sr. Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) and center fielder Nicolina Veneziano (so. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) each added one hit in three at bats. First baseman Stephanie Labas (fr. Millville, NJ/Millville) chipped in with one RBI and pinch runner Lauren Davis (so. Ewing, NJ/Ewing) scored one run.
Richard Stockton recorded the winning run in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Sneddon singled up the middle and designated player Arianna Donzuso (fr. Hammonton, NJ/St. Joseph) followed with a walk. After a strikeout, Derewecki drove home Sneddon with a single.
Rowan tied the score at two with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, designated player Ashley Landi (jr. Vineland, NJ/Vineland) walked and was replaced by Davis, who went to second on a wild pitch. Leskanic had a single and Davis advanced to third. After Leskanic stole second, Labas grounded out and Davis scored. Leskanic went to third on the out. Roselle plated Leskanic with a single to center field.
Richard Stockton got on the scoreboard with one run in the first inning. Shetter had a single to left field and she later came home on an error with Dodd at bat. The Ospreys were up 2-0 after one run in the third. Accardi recorded a RBI double, scoring Afflitto.
Against TCNJ, Minix only allowed four hits and one earned run. She struck out six batters. Pitcher Ashley Minervini (sr. Cliffside Park, NJ/Cliffside Park) had the loss. Minervini (15-6) gave up six hits and two earned runs. She totaled seven strikeouts.
Roselle contributed with two hits in three at bats, one RBI and a double. Veneziano registered one hit (three at bats) and one RBI. Second baseman Jenna DiDonato (sr. Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) added one hit (three at bats) and one run scored. Pinch runner Nicole Escudero (fr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) scored one run.
For the Lions, left fielder Crystal Lee (so. Dover, NJ/Morris Knolls) was two for three at the plate. Third baseman Kelly Hommen (fr. Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) and center fielder Danielle Hagel (sr. Egg Harbor City, NJ/Oakcrest) had one hit apiece. Pinch runner Michelle Casale (fr. Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) scored one run.
TCNJ had its lone run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Casale crossed the plate on a sac bunt by right fielder Colleen Cawley (jr. Riverton, NJ/Holy Cross). Rowan tied the score in the top of the fifth inning. Escudero ran for first baseman Steph Labas (fr. Millville, NJ/Millville) who had a single. Roselle knocked in Escudero with a double.
The Profs’ winning run came in the sixth. DiDonato led off with a single and moved to second on catcher Steph Taraschi’s (sr. Mt. Ephriam, NJ/Aubudon) sac bunt. Shortstop Ashley Minch (so. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Mem.) reached on an error. Veneziano hit a single to left field, scoring DiDonato.
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 – NJAC Third Round Results (TCNJ Lions’ Park)
Game 7: #5 Kean University 6, #6 Richard Stockton 2
Game 8: #3 Rowan University 2, #1 The College of New Jersey 1 (TCNJ is eliminated.)
Game 9: #6 Richard Stockton 3, #3 Rowan University 2 (Rowan is eliminated.)
Sun., May 9 (TCNJ Lions’ Park)
Game 10: #5 Kean University (28-14) vs. #6 Richard Stockton (24-14), 11 a.m.
Game 11: same teams as game 10 (if necessary), TBA
