Lynchburg - Box Score
Christopher Newport - Box Score
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – The Rowan University softball team splits its first two games at the Virginia Wesleyan Beach Blast on Friday. Rowan lost to Lynchburg College, 6-5 in eight innings and defeated Christopher Newport University, 9-0.
Against Lynchburg (6-1), pitcher Katie Bruce (sr. Lanexa, VA/Lafayette) tossed 6.2 innings for the win (4-0). She allowed one run and struck out four batters. Righty Jamie Minix (jr. Clarksboro, NJ/Kingsway Reg.) took the loss (0-1) for the Profs.
The Hornets were led by shortstop Taylor Walker (jr. Poquoson, VA/Poquoson) with two hits (two at bats), two runs scored, three RBIs and a homer. It was her third home run of the season. Center fielder Samantha Gleason (fr. Sterling, VA/Park View) produced one hit (four at bats) and one run scored.
Center fielder Nicolina Veneziano (jr. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) went two for three with three RBIs, one run scored and a home run. Second baseman Ashley Landi (sr. Vineland, NJ/Vineland) went two for four with one RBI, a double and a triple. Left fielder Casey Roselle (sr. Sparta, NJ/Sparta) added one hit in three at bats, two runs scored, one RBI and a double. Right fielder Megan Becker (jr. Collingdale, PA/Academy Park) contributed with one hit (four at bats) and one run scored.
Lynchburg went ahead, 3-0 on a three-run homer by Walker in the top of the third inning. Rowan cut the deficit to two (3-1) when Landi tripled in Roselle in the bottom half. The Hornets tacked on one run in the fourth and fifth innings. Gleason came home on a passed ball in the fourth and Walker crossed the plate on an error in the fifth.
Rowan sent the game into extra innings with four runs in the bottom of the seventh. Roselle’s double drove in Becker. Veneziano hit a three-run blast that knocked in pinch hitter Lauren Davis (jr. Ewing, NJ/Ewing) and Roselle. In the top of the eighth, first baseman Amanda Parker (fr. Mechanicsville, VA/Lee-Davis) started at second base due to the international tie-breaker. She later scored on a ground out by left fielder Logan-Ann Gittman (so. Glen Allen, VA/Hermitage) to give the Hornets the win.
In the nightcap, right-hander Amanda Singer (jr. Monmouth Jct., NJ/E. Brunswick) tossed a complete game shutout for the win (1-0). She registered eight strikeouts. Righty Elizabeth Holte (so. Richmond, VA/Altee) was the losing pitcher (3-1).
Veneziano was four for five with three runs scored, three RBIs and three doubles. Shortstop Ashley Minch (jr. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Mem.) went three for four with four RBIs and a double. Landi chipped in with one run scored and two RBIs. Davis and Roselle each scored twice, while second baseman Nicole Escudero (so. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) crossed the plate once.
In the top of the third inning, Veneziano singled and came home on a single by Minch. The Profs scored two runs in the fourth on Minch’s two run double. In the sixth, Veneziano’s double brought Davis home. Landi followed with a ground out that plated Roselle and Minch drove Veneziano in with a single. Veneziano ripped a two-run double in the seventh. Landi’s ground out scored Roselle for the final run.
The two-day tournament continues on Saturday, Rowan (1-1) plays Roanoke College at 10 a.m. and Randolph-Macon College at 2 p.m.
