Box Score

UNION, NJ – The Rowan University softball team lost to the top seed Montclair State University, 3-2 in eight innings in the third round of the NCAA Union Regional.  The double elimination tournament continues Sunday-Monday, May 13-14 at Kean University.   

The third seed Rowan (38-8) plays the second seed Moravian College (34-10) on Sunday at noon and the winner meets Montclair State (41-7) at 2 p.m.  The if necessary game is slated for Monday at 10 a.m.  The regional winner advances to the national championship that is scheduled for Friday-Tuesday, May 18-22 at the Moyer Complex in Salem, VA.

In the other third round games, Moravian defeated the fourth seed The College of New Jersey, 5-4.  Alvernia shut out the seventh seed Centenary College, 8-0 in five innings.  Moravian stayed alive with a 3-0 shutout against the fifth seed Alvernia University.  It was the second loss of the regional for TCNJ, Centenary and Alvernia. 

Right-hander Alex Hill (so. Parsippany, NJ/Parsippany Hills) earned the win on the mound.  She (29-4) scattered six hits and gave up two earned runs.  Hill struck out seven batters.  Righty LeAnne Miller (jr. Vineland, NJ/Vineland) took the loss.  Miller (21-2) gave up three runs, one earned on six hits.  She had four strikeouts.

Red Hawks’ center fielder Shannon Mozek (sr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) went two for four with a double and one RBI.  Second baseman Katie Muglia (so. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) contributed with one hit in three at bats and one run scored.  Right fielder Stephanie Szeliga (sr. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) added one hit in two trips to the plate.  Pinch runner Brianna Rossi (so. Parsippany, NJ/Parsippany) scored one run.  Pinch hitter Melany Zeller (fr. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) and Hill each chipped in with one hit.

For the Profs, catcher Nicolina Veneziano (sr. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) went one for four with two RBIs and a home run.  Second baseman Nicole Escudero (jr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) produced one hit (three at bats) and one run scored.  Left fielder Jennifer Arcella (so. Hillsdale, NJ/Pascack Valley) registered a double while first baseman Stephanie Labas (jr. Millville, NJ/Millville), shortstop Ashley Minch (sr. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Mem.) and third baseman Julie Leskanic (sr. West Milford, NJ/West Milford) each had one hit. 

All of the scoring came in the eighth inning.  In the top half, Escudero led off with a bunt single.  With one out, Escudero stole second.  Veneziano followed with a homer to center field.  It was her seventh home run on the season.  She holds the school’s career home run record with 25.

In the bottom, Muglia and Zeller recorded back-to-back singles.  Rossi pinch ran for Zeller.  Catcher Heather Bergman (jr. Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston) had a sacrifice bunt and was safe at first on a throwing error.  Rossi advanced to third and Muglia scored.  Szeliga walked to load the bases.  Bergman was replaced by pinch runner Nicole Iorio (fr. Beachwood, NJ/Toms River S.).  Mozek plated Rossi with a single to right field and the score was tied at two.  Szeliga advanced to second and Iorio went to third on the base hit.  Iorio crossed the plate for the winning run on an error.

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 5, #4 The College of New Jersey 4
   (The College of New Jersey is eliminated.)
Game 10: #5 Alvernia University 8, #7 Centenary College 0 (5 inn.)
   (Centenary is eliminated.)
Game 11: #1 Montclair State University 3, #3 Rowan University 2 (8 inn.)
Game 12: #2 Moravian College 3, #5 Alvernia University 0
   (Alvernia is eliminated.)

Sunday, May 13
Game 13: #2 Moravian College (35-10) vs. #3 Rowan University (38-8), noon
Game 14: #1 Montclair State University (41-7) vs. Game 13 winner, 2 p.m.

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