Box Score

UNION, NJ – The Rowan University softball team shut out Misericordia University, 4-0 in the first round of the NCAA Union Regional.  The double elimination tournament continues Friday-Monday, May 11-14 at Kean University.   

The third seed Rowan (37-7) plays the seventh seed Centenary College (27-14) on Friday at 4 p.m. in the second round.  Misericordia (28-16), seeded sixth, drops to the loser’s bracket and faces the second seed Moravian College (32-10) at noon. 

In the other first round games, the top seed Montclair State University blanked the eighth seed Baruch College, 8-0 in six innings.  The fourth seed The College of New Jersey defeated the fifth seed Alvernia University, 2-1 in nine innings while Centenary upset Moravian, 3-0.

Right-hander Jamie Minix (sr. Clarksboro, NJ/Kingsway Reg.) threw six innings for the win.  Minix (12-6) only gave up four hits and she struck out four batters.  Righty Katie Trotter (jr. Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) pitched the final inning.  Right-hander Caitlin Cromley (jr. Jersey Shore, PA/Jersey Shore) took the loss.  Cromley (18-8) allowed four earned runs on seven hits.

Profs’ left fielder Jennifer Arcella (so. Hillsdale, NJ/Pascack Valley) went one for three with two RBIs and a home run.  Catcher Nicolina Veneziano (sr. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) contributed with a double (three at bats), one RBI and one run scored.  Third baseman Julie Leskanic (sr. West Milford, NJ/West Milford) produced a double (three at bats) and one RBI.  First baseman Stephanie Labas (jr. Millville, NJ/Millville) had two hits in three at bats.  Second baseman Nicole Escudero (jr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) chipped in with two hits (two at bats) and scored one run.

For the Cougars, Cromley registered two hits in three at bats.  Third baseman Kristi Seiler (fr. Slatington, PA/Northern Lehigh) and designated player Kat LaBrie (jr. Campton, NH/Plymouth Reg.) each had one hit in three trips to the plate. 

After three scoreless innings, the Profs’ first run came in the bottom of the fourth. Labas led off with a single to right field and was replaced by pinch runner Ally Zitzman (fr. Middletown, NJ/Middletown N.).  Minch advanced Zitzman to second with a sacrifice bunt.  With one out, Leskanic knocked in Zitzman with a double to right center field.

Rowan was ahead 4-0 after three runs in the fifth inning.  Escudero had a base hit to center field and she moved to second on a ground out.  Veneziano plated Escudero with a double to right field.  Arcella followed with a two-run homer to center field, scoring Veneziano.  It was her second home run on the season.

The Profs received an automatic bid to the national tournament as the champion of the New Jersey Athletic Conference.  Rowan defeated Montclair State, 3-1 in the conference final (May 6).  This is the Profs’ 20th appearance in the NCAAs.  Rowan has advanced to the national finals three times and finished fourth in 1994 and 1993.  Misericordia captured the Freedom Conference title for an automatic berth.  It is the Cougars’ third trip to the national tournament and first since 2007.

The schedule for the Union Regional is below.  The updated schedule and results can be found at the Union Regional website - http://www.keanathletics.com/NCAA/softball2012/index.

Thursday, May 10
Game 1: #1 Montclair State University 8, #8 Baruch College 0 (6 inn.)
Game 2: #4 The College of New Jersey 2, #5 Alvernia University 1 (9 inn.)
Game 3: #3 Rowan University 4, #6 Misericordia University 0
Game 4: #7 Centenary College 3, #2 Moravian College 0

Friday, May 11
Game 5: #8 Baruch College (17-26) vs. #5 Alvernia University (36-10), 10 a.m.
Game 6: #6 Misericordia University (28-16) vs. #2 Moravian College (32-10), noon
Game 7: #1 Montclair State University (39-7) vs. #4 The College of New Jersey (26-15), 2 p.m.
Game 8: #3 Rowan University (37-7) vs. #7 Centenary College (27-14), 4 p.m.

Saturday, May 12
Game 9: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 loser, 10 a.m.
Game 10: Game 8 loser vs. Game 5 winner, noon
Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 2 p.m.
Game 12: Game 10 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 4 p.m.

Sunday, May 13
Game 13: Game 12 winner vs. Game 11 loser, noon
Game 14: Game 11 winner vs. Game 13 winner, 2 p.m.

Monday, May 14
Game 15: Game 14 winner vs. Game 14 loser (if necessary), 10 a.m.