Game 10 - Box Score
Game 11 - Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – Kean University defeated The College of New Jersey, 2-1 in eight innings to win the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Softball Championship Tournament. It is the Cougars’ second straight conference title.
Kean (16-25), the sixth seed, receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. The pairings for the national tournament will be announced on www.ncaa.org in a live webstream on Monday, May 9 at noon. Seeded fifth The College of New Jersey has a 28-14 record.
In the final round on Sunday, TCNJ had a 10-1 win over Kean in five innings to force a second game between the two teams in the double elimination tournament.
Game 10: #5 The College of NJ 10, #6 Kean University 1 (5 inn.)
The College of New Jersey won 10-1 in five innings over Kean University in the championship round of the conference tournament. It was the first tournament loss for the Cougars which forced a second game between the two teams to determine the NJAC champion.
Right-hander Lauren Fitzsimmons (jr. Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) was the winning pitcher. She (12-3) gave up one earned run on three hits in five innings. Righty Courtney Smyth (sr. Abington, PA/Abington) took the loss. Smyth (8-15) allowed seven hits and 10 runs, four were earned.
Lions’ third baseman Kelly Hommen (so. Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) collected one hit (four at bats), a double, four RBIs and one run scored. Designated player Caitlyn Seamster (sr. Edison, NJ/John P. Stevens) contributed with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. First baseman Katelyn Congilose (jr. Toms River, NJ/Monsignor Donovan) added one hit (three at bats) and two RBIs. Left fielder Crystal Lee (jr. Rockaway, NJ/Morris Knolls) and second baseman Michelle Casale (so. Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) each tallied one hit (three at bats) and two runs scored. Shortstop Ashley Sogluizzo (so. Middletown, NJ/Middletown S.) scored three runs and had one RBI. Center fielder Liz Huttner (so. Princeton Junction, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro S.) chipped in with one hit (two at bats) and one RBI.
For Kean, right fielder Megan Cegielski (fr. Stockton, NJ/Hunterdon Central) was two for three with one run scored. Left fielder Sandra Binkiewicz (fr. Belleville, NJ/Belleville) recorded a triple in two trips to the plate and one RBI.
TCNJ had a 2-1 lead after the first inning. Hommen grounded out, scoring Lee for the Lions’ first run. Sogluizzo crossed the plate on a sac bunt and error with Huttner at bat.
Binkiewicz tripled in Ceglielski for Kean’s run. The Lions went up 7-1 after five runs in the second. Hommen recorded a three RBI double and Congilose drove in two with a single. In the third, Casale crossed the plate on an error and Seamster had a two run homer to left field.
Game 11: #6 Kean University 2, #5 The College of NJ 1 (8 inn.)
Catcher Nicole Scarillo (sr. South Amboy, NJ/South Amboy) drove in Kean’s winning run with a double in the top of the eighth inning. Pinch runner Kesley Hannan (so. Saddle Brook, NJ/Immaculate Conception) scored the run after replacing third baseman Courtney Melchionna (so. Linden, NJ/Linden) who reached base with a double to left center with two outs.
Smyth was the winning pitcher. She (9-15) scattered nine hits and allowed one earned run. Fitzsimmons was on the mound for the loss. She (12-4) gave up two earned runs on six hits. Fitzsimmons struck out five batters.
For the Cougars, shortstop Alicia Banz (jr. Carteret, NJCarteret) went two for four with a double. Cegielski was one for three with one run scored. Second baseman Katie Schuh (so. Mt. Holly, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) registered one RBI.
Hommen had two hits in four trips to the plate. Huttner produced two hits (four at bats) and one run scored. Congilose added two hits in three at bats. Pinch hitter Kristen Lake (fr. Readington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) posted one hit in one at bat and one RBI.
Both teams scored one run in the sixth inning. Cegielski had a lead-off triple for Kean and she scored on Schuh’s sacrifice fly to right field. In the bottom, Huttner singled and went to second on a sac bunt by right fielder Colleen Cawley (sr. Riverton, NJ/Holy Cross). Lake plated Huttner with a single.
The NJAC Softball Championship Tournament results are below.
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: #2 Montclair State University 6, #1 Rowan University 1 (Rowan is eliminated.)
Game 5: #6 Kean University 6, #4 Ramapo College 3 (Ramapo is eliminated.)
Game 6: #5 The College of NJ 1, #3 William Paterson University 0
Sat., May 7 (Rowan Softball Field)
Game 7: #6 Kean University 7, #5 The College of NJ 5
Game 8: #3 William Paterson University 2, #2 Montclair State University 1 (MSU is eliminated.)
Game 9: #5 The College of NJ 5, #3 William Paterson University 1 (Wm. Paterson is eliminated.)
Sun., May 8 (Rowan Softball Field)
Game 10: #5 The College of NJ 10, #6 Kean University 1 (5 inn.)
Game 11: #6 Kean University 2, #5 The College of NJ 1 (8 inn.)
