Game 1 - Box Score
Game 2 - Box Score
JERSEY CITY, NJ – The Rowan University softball team swept New Jersey City University, 11-0 and 11-1 in the last conference doubleheader of the regular season. Both games were only five innings because of the eight run rule.
The Profs are the third seed in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament. The softball team hosts the fourth seed William Paterson University in the first round on Tuesday, May 1 at 4 p.m. Rowan has a 32-7 record and a final 12-6 mark in the conference. The Gothic Knights end the season 12-27 overall with a 2-16 NJAC record.
Right-hander LeAnne Miller (jr. Vineland, NJ/Vineland) pitched a no-hitter and recorded her sixth shutout in the first game. Miller (16-1) had five strikeouts. Righty Ashley O’Beirne (jr. Wood-Ridge, NJ/Immaculate Conception) took the loss. O’Beirne (7-16) gave up four earned runs on three hits in 2.1 innings.
Catcher Nicolina Veneziano (sr. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) led the Profs with a home run, four RBIs and two runs scored. Right fielder Lauren Davis (sr. Ewing, NJ/Ewing) went two for two with a double and three runs scored. Second baseman Nicole Escudero (jr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) contributed with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Third baseman Julie Leskanic (sr. West Milford, NJ/West Milford) had two hits in three at bats and scored one run. First baseman Stephanie Labas (jr. Millville, NJ/Millville) collected one hit and two RBIs. Left fielder Jennifer Arcella (so. Hillsdale, NJ/Pascack Valley) tallied one hit, one RBI and one run scored.
Rowan got on the scoreboard with nine runs in the third inning. Davis scored the first on a passed ball. Labas posted a RBI single and Arcella came home on a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Katie Trotter (jr. Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown). Escudero drove in two runs with a double to center field. Veneziano recorded a grand slam with her second at bat in the inning. It was her sixth homer on the season. She holds the school career home run record with 24. The Profs had their last two runs in the top of the fifth. Arcella had a single down the left field line and Escudero crossed the plate. Davis scored on a fielder’s choice with Labas at bat.
In the nightcap, Trotter was on the mound for the victory. She (3-0) only allowed one earned run on three hits. Trotter struck out six batters. O’Beirne was the losing pitcher. She (7-17) gave up nine hits and 11 runs, four earned.
Davis totaled two hits (two at bats), three RBIs and two runs scored. Labas produced a double and three RBIs in four at bats. Arcella registered one hit (four at bats), two RBIs and one run scored. Veneziano chipped in with one hit in two trips to the plate, one RBI and one run scored. Leskanic produced two hits (three at bats), a double and two runs scored. Shortstop Kristi Twardziak (so. Somerdale, NJ/Triton Reg.) went one for three with one RBI and two runs scored.
For NJCU, shortstop Megan Ginter (sr. Nutley, NJ/Nutley) recorded a home run in two at bats. Designated player Marissa Bariso (so. Hewitt, NJ/West Milford) and catcher Nicole Calixto (fr. Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) each had one hit (two at bats).
Rowan went up 3-0 in the second inning. Leskanic led off with a double and later scored on Davis’ base hit. Arcella knocked in two runs with a single to right field. The Profs led 5-0 after two runs in the top of the third. Twardziak had a RBI single and she scored on a wild pitch. In the bottom half, Ginter homered to right field, which was her fourth on the season.
The Profs posted six runs in the fifth inning. Escudero walked with the bases loaded. Davis’ single scored Leskanic and Twardziak. Labas ripped a double to right center that brought home Davis, Veneziano and Arcella.
