Box Score

UNION, NJ – The Rowan University softball team won 2-1 over Centenary College in the second round of the NCAA Union Regional.  The double elimination tournament continues Saturday-Monday, May 12-14 at Kean University.   

The third seed Rowan (38-7) plays the top seed Montclair State University (40-7) on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the third round.  In the loser’s bracket, the seventh seed Centenary (27-15) meets the fifth seed Alvernia University (37-10) at noon. 

In the other second round games, Alvernia defeated the eighth seed Baruch College, 8-0 in five innings while the second seed Moravian College won 11-2 in six innings over the sixth seed Misericordia University.  It was the second loss in the regional for Baruch and Misericordia.  Montclair State shut out the fourth seed The College of New Jersey, 7-0.

The Profs’ winning run came in the fifth inning.  First baseman Stephanie Labas (jr. Millville, NJ/Millville) had a lead off single.  She was replaced by pinch runner Ally Zitzman (fr. Middletown, NJ/Middletown N.).  Zitzman moved to second on an illegal pitch and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Ashley Minch (sr. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Mem.).  Designated player Katie Trotter (jr. Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) knocked in Zitzman with a double down the left field line.

Right-hander LeAnne Miller (jr. Vineland, NJ/Vineland) threw a complete game for the victory.  Miller (21-1) only gave up two hits and one earned run.  Righty Meagan Madsen (so. New Milford, NJ/New Milford) suffered the loss in relief.  Madsen (11-8) pitched 0.2 innings and allowed one earned run on two hits. 

Rowan catcher Nicolina Veneziano (sr. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) went one for three with one run scored.  Minch and Trotter each contributed with one hit and one RBI.  Right fielder Lauren Davis (sr. Ewing, NJ/Ewing) chipped in with two hits in three trips to the plate.  Third baseman Julie Leskanic (sr. West Milford, NJ/West Milford) and Labas added one hit apiece. 

For Centenary, center fielder Caitlin Veverka (sr. Bayonne, NJ/Holy Family Academy) registered one hit (three at bats) and one run scored.  Designated player Erin Walsh (fr. Linden, NJ/Linden) posted one hit in two at bats.

The Cyclones got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning.  Veverka led off with a single to right field and she stole second.  Shortstop Gabrielle Pellegrino’s (sr. Bayonne, NJ/Holy Family Academy) ground out advanced Veverka to third.  Veverka crossed the plate on a wild pitch.

The Profs tied the score in the third inning.  Veneziano had a base hit up the middle.  She was safe at second because of an error on a fielder’s choice with left fielder Jennifer Arcella (so. Hillsdale, NJ/Pascack Valley) at bat.  Minch singled to right center, scoring Veneziano.

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.

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: #5 Alvernia University 8, #8 Baruch College 0 (5 inn.) 
   (Baruch is eliminated.)
Game 6: #2 Moravian College 11, #6 Misericordia University 2 (6 inn.) 
   (Misericordia is eliminated.)
Game 7: #1 Montclair State University 7, #4 The College of New Jersey 0
Game 8: #3 Rowan University 2, #7 Centenary College 1

Saturday, May 12
Game 9: #2 Moravian College (33-10) vs. #4 The College of New Jersey (26-16), 10 a.m.
Game 10: #7 Centenary College (27-15) vs. #5 Alvernia University (37-10), noon
Game 11: #1 Montclair State University (40-7) vs. #3 Rowan University (38-7), 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.