Box Score

GLASSBORO, NJ – The Kean University softball team upset the top seed Rowan University, 5-4 in the first round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament on Tuesday.

The Cougars scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning. With one out, second baseman Katie Schuh (so. Mt. Holly, NJ/Rancocas Valley) singled up the middle. Left fielder Sandra Binkiewicz (fr. Belleville, NJ/Belleville) reached base on an error. The runners advanced to second and third on a ground out by third baseman Courtney Melchionna (so. Linden, NJ/Linden). Catcher Nicole Scarillo (sr. South Amboy, NJ/South Amboy) knocked in Schuh and Binkiewicz with a single to center field.

Kean (13-24), seeded sixth, will play the fourth seed Ramapo College (26-9) at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 6. The Profs (28-10) open the second round at 11 a.m. against number two Montclair State University (26-9). In the third game on Friday, the third seed William Paterson University (27-8) faces the fifth seed The College of New Jersey (25-12) at 3 p.m. Rowan is the host for the remainder of the NJAC Championship Tournament on Friday-Sunday, May 6-8.

In the other first round games, The College of New Jersey defeated host Montclair State University, 1-0 in nine innings. William Paterson University shut out visiting Ramapo College, 1-0.

Right-hander Courtney Smyth (sr. Abington, PA/Abington) pitched a complete game for the Cougars’ victory. Smyth (6-14) scattered nine hits and gave up four earned runs. Righty Erika Knorr (sr. Monroeville, NJ/Delsea Reg.) took the loss. Knorr (0-1) was on the mound for 2.2 relief innings. She allowed two hits and two unearned runs while striking out four batters.

Scarillo ended the game with two hits in four at bats and two RBIs. Binkiewicz contributed with two hits (four at bats), a double, one RBI and two runs scored. Schuh was three for four with two runs scored. Melchionna added two hits in three at bats and one RBI. Right fielder Megan Cegielski (fr. Stockton, NJ/Hunterdon Central) registered two hits (four at bats) and one run scored.

For Rowan, center fielder Nicolina Veneziano (jr. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) registered a home run and two RBIs. Second baseman Jenny Arcella (fr. Hillsdale, NJ/Pascack Valley) had three hits (one double) in three trips to the plate. Third baseman Julie Leskanic (jr. West Milford, NJ/West Milford) recorded a two run homer. Left fielder Casey Roselle (sr. Sparta, NJ/Sparta) added one hit (four at bats) and one run scored.

The Profs had a 2-0 lead after the first inning. Roselle led off with a single and went to second on a wild pitch. Veneziano knocked the ball over the right center field fence for her seventh home run on the year. The Cougars trailed 2-1 after scoring one run in the top of the second. Binkiewicz had a lead off single and advanced to second on Melchionna’s sacrifice bunt. A ground out moved Binkiewicz to third and she crossed the plate on an error. In the bottom half, Rowan scored two runs for a 4-1 advantage. Leskanic produced a two-run homer, scoring Arcella who got on base with a single.

Kean trailed 4-3 after two runs in the fifth inning. Binkiewicz’s RBI double scored Cegielski. Melchionna followed with a single that plated Schuh.

This is Rowan’s 22nd appearance in the NJAC Championship Tournament and eighth straight. The Profs have captured the conference title six times (2002, 2001, 1998, 1994, 1990, 1983). Kean University is the defending conference champion. It was the Cougars’ first NJAC title last year.

Tickets for the NJAC Softball Championship Tournament are: $5 for adults and $2 for students with ID, senior citizens and children. The conference champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.

The conference tournament schedule is below. Results and the updated schedule for the double elimination tournament are available at rowanathletics.com and njacsports.com.

Tue,, May 3 (at higher seeds)
Game 1: #6 Kean University 5, #1 Rowan University 4
Game 2: #5 The College of NJ 1, #2 Montclair State University 0 (9 innings)
Game 3: #3 William Paterson University 1, #4 Ramapo College 0

Fri., May 6 (Rowan Softball Field)
Game 4: #1 Rowan University (28-10) vs. #2 Montclair State University (26-9), 11 a.m.
Game 5: #6 Kean University (13-24) vs. #4 Ramapo College (26-9), 1 p.m.
Game 6: #5 The College of NJ (25-12) vs. #3 William Paterson University (27-8), 3 p.m.

IF FOUR TEAMS REMAIN AFTER GAME 6:

Sat., May 7 (Rowan Softball Field)
Game 7: winner game 5 vs. winner game 6, 10 a.m.
Game 8: winner game 4 vs. loser game 6, noon
Game 9: loser game 7 vs. winner game 8, 2 p.m.

Sun., May 8 (Rowan Softball Field)
Game 10: winner game 7 vs. winner game 9, 11 a.m.
Game 11: same teams as game 10 (if necessary), TBA

IF FIVE TEAMS REMAIN AFTER GAME 6:

Sat., May 7 (Rowan Softball Field)
Game 7: loser game 5 vs. loser game 6, 10 a.m.
Game 8: winner game 4 vs. winner game 5, noon
Game 9: winner game 6 vs. winner game 7, 2 p.m.

IF TWO TEAMS REMAIN AFTER GAME 9:

Sun., May 8 (Rowan Softball Field)
Game 10: winner game 8 vs. winner game 9, 11 a.m.
Game 11: same teams as game 10 (if necessary), TBA

IF THREE TEAMS REMAIN AFTER GAME 9:

Sun., May 8 (Rowan Softball Field)
Game 10: winner game 8 vs. loser game 9, 11 a.m.
Game 11: winner game 9 vs. winner game 10, 1 p.m.