Game One - Box Score
Game Two - Box Score
COLLEGEVILLE, PA – The Rowan University softball team split a nonconference doubleheader at Ursinus College on Thursday. The Bears won the first game, 4-3 in nine innings and the Profs took the second, 2-0.
It was the first loss for Rowan (18-1), who is ranked ninth in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 Poll. Ursinus is 8-7 on the season.
In the opener, the score was tied at two after seven innings. The teams each had one run in the eighth. In the bottom of the ninth, left fielder Caitlin Whelan (so. Stanhope, NJ/Pope John XXIII Reg.) started on second base because of the international tie-breaker rule. Third baseman Cassie Brown (sr. Warminster, PA/Archbishop Wood) moved Whelan to third with a sacrifice bunt. Shortstop Kelsey Coyne (jr. Stowe, PA/Pottsgrove) plated Whelan with a single down the left field line.
Pitcher Jennilyn Weber (jr. Valley View, PA/Tri-Valley) had the win on the mound. She (4-4) scattered eight hits and allowed two earned runs. Right-hander Jamie Minix (sr. Clarksboro, NJ/Kingsway Reg.) took the loss. She (8-1) gave up six hits, two runs and one was earned. Minix struck out five batters.
Ursinus designated player Kate Kehoe (sr. Mariposa, CA/Mariposa) went two for three. Center fielder Amy Gentile (jr. Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) contributed with one hit (four at bats), one RBI and one run scored. Catcher Emelie McFarland (jr. Sykesville, MD/Century) recorded a triple and one RBI. Weber added one hit and scored one run.
For Rowan, shortstop Ashley Minch (sr. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Mem.) went two for four with one RBI and a double. Left fielder Jennifer Arcella (so. Hillsdale, NJ/Pascack Valley) totaled two hits in four at bats, one double and scored one run. Center fielder Shannon Costello (fr. East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) produced one hit (two at bats), one RBI and one run scored. Second baseman Nicole Escudero (jr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) contributed with one hit and one RBI.
The Bears got on the scoreboard first with one run in the fifth inning. The Profs went ahead 2-1 in the top of the seventh. Arcella led off with a double to center field. Costello drove in Arcella with a single and she went to second on the throw. Escudero had a RBI single, scoring Costello. In the bottom half, pinch runner Delia Mercurio (fr. Washington Twp., NJ/Washington Twp.) crossed the plate on a fielder’s choice.
In the eighth, Minch reached base on an error, which scored pinch runner Ally Zitzman (fr. Middletown, NJ/Middletown N.). McFarland tied the game with a RBI triple that brought home Gentile.
Righty LeAnne Miller (jr. Vineland, NJ/Vineland) went the distance on the mound for her third shutout in the second game. She (9-0) only gave up one hit and totaled seven strikeouts. Kelly Schymanski (jr. Pottstown, PA/Pottstown) was the losing pitcher. She (3-2) allowed two earned runs on six hits.
The Profs’ third baseman Julie Leskanic (sr. West Milford, NJ/West Milford) and Costello each produced one hit (three at bats) and one RBI. Leskanic also scored one run. First baseman Stephanie Labas (jr. Millville, NJ/Millville) had a double and one run scored. Catcher Nicolina Veneziano (sr. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) and Minch tallied one hit apiece while Arcella had a double.
Both of Rowan’s runs came in the fourth inning. Labas had a lead off double and she came home on Leskanic’s single to right field. Costello drove in Leskanic with a single to right.
Rowan starts its conference schedule at William Paterson University on Saturday, March 31 at 1 p.m.
