Box Score
MONTCLAIR, NJ – Third seeded Rowan University defeated the top seed Montclair State University, 3-1 on Sunday to win the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Softball Championship Tournament.
It is Rowan’s (36-7) seventh NJAC Championship and first since 2002. The Profs receive the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. The selections and pairings for the national tournament will be released on NCAA.com at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 7. Montclair State finishes the regular season with a 38-7 record.
Right-hander LeAnne Miller (jr. Vineland, NJ/Vineland) pitched a complete game for the victory. She (20-1) only allowed one earned run on three hits. Miller struck out a season-high 11 batters. Righty Alex Hill (so. Parsippany, NJ/Parsippany Hills) took the loss. She (26-4) surrendered three earned runs on three hits in six innings.
Designated hitter Katie Trotter (jr. Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) led the Profs with a double (three at bats) and three RBIs. Catcher Nicolina Veneziano (sr. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) registered two hits (three at bats), one run scored and a double. Shortstop Ashley Minch (sr. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Mem.) and first baseman Stephanie Labas (jr. Millville, NJ/Millville) each scored once.
For the Red Hawks, center fielder Shannon Mozek (sr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) went two for three with one run scored and a double. Hill produced one RBI. Left fielder Jamie Paulino (jr. Linden, NJ/Linden) contributed with one hit in two at bats.
Montclair State went ahead, 1-0 in the top of the first inning. Mozek led off with a double to left center field. She moved to third on Paulino’s sacrifice bunt and scored on a sacrifice fly by Hill. All three of Rowan’s runs came in the third. Veneziano singled to left center field. Labas walked and Minch was hit by a pitch to load the bases. With two outs, Trotter ripped a double to right center field, plating Veneziano, Labas and Minch.
The NJAC Softball Championship Tournament results are below.
Tue., May 1 (at higher seeds) – double elimination tournament
Game 1: #1 Montclair State University 5, #6 Ramapo College 0
Game 2: #5 Kean University 4, #2 The College of New Jersey 0
Game 3: #3 Rowan University 2, #4 William Paterson University 1
Fri., May 4 (Montclair State University Softball Stadium)
Game 4: #2 The College of New Jersey 2, #6 Ramapo College 0
(Ramapo is eliminated.)
Game 5: #1 Montclair State University 1, #4 William Paterson University 0
(William Paterson is eliminated.)
Game 6: #3 Rowan University 3, #5 Kean University 2 (8 inn.)
Sat., May 5 (Montclair State University Softball Stadium)
Game 7: #3 Rowan University 3, #1 Montclair State University 0 (8 inn.)
Game 8: #2 The College of New Jersey 3, #5 Kean University 0
(Kean is eliminated.)
Game 9: #1 Montclair State University 1, #2 The College of New Jersey 0 (8 inn.)
(The College of New Jersey is eliminated.)
Sun., May 6 (Montclair State University Softball Stadium)
Game 10: #3 Rowan University 3, #1 Montclair State University 1
(Montclair State is eliminated.)
