Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – The Rowan University softball team split two games on the opening day of the season.  The Profs defeated Western Connecticut State University, 3-1 and lost to host Virginia Wesleyan College, 6-3.

Right-hander Krysti Maronski (sr. Woodbury Heights, NJ/Gloucester County Institute of Technology) was the winning pitcher against Western Connecticut.  She only allowed four hits and one run.  Maronski struck out 14 batters and tied the school record.  Righty Emily Cintorino (so. Bristol, CT/Bristol Central) took the loss.  She gave up eight hits and three runs, two earned.

Catcher Meagan Lee (sr. Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) was two for two at the plate with a double, one RBI and one run scored.  Designated player Ashley DeYoung (so. Oakland, NJ/Indian Hills) recorded a home run.  Center fielder Shannon Costello (jr. East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) contributed with one hit (three at bats) and one run scored.

For the Colonials (0-1), third baseman Kylee Ruther (sr. Stamford, CT/Westhill) registered a double and one RBI.  Pinch runner Kayla Sliger (fr. Brookline, NH/Hollis Brookline) scored the lone run.

Rowan got on the scoreboard with two runs in the bottom of the second inning.  DeYoung led off with a solo shot to center field.  Costello reached base with a single to left and crossed the plate on Lee's double.  Western Connecticut's run came in the top of the fourth.  Sliger scored on an error with Ruther at bat.  In the bottom of the inning, Lee crossed the plate on an error. 

Right-hander MacKenzie Creech (sr. Hillsborough, NC/Orange) had the win on the mound for undefeated Virginia Wesleyan (7-0).  In 4.2 innings, she (4-0) scattered five hits and gave up one run.  Righty Mary Shipp (so. Virginia Beach, VA/First Colonial) pitched the last 2.1 innings for her second save.  Right-hander Beth Ann Hyland (so. East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) had the loss and went four innings. 

Designated player Lindsey Inzana (sr. Chesapeake, VA/Grassfield) led the Marlins with two hits (four at bats), two doubles and two RBIs.  Third baseman Kayla Dost (so. Bristow, VA/Nokesville Brentsville) contributed with a double and two RBIs.  Left fielder Courtney Bogan (so. Round Hill, VA/Woodgrove) collected two hits (three at bats), one RBI and two runs scored.  Second baseman Kayla Malkos (so. Roanoke, VA/Cave Spring) was two for four with one RBI and one run scored.
Rowan shortstop Shilah Snead (so. Malaga, NJ/Delsea Reg.) totaled three hits in four at bats, a home run and two runs scored.  Left fielder Jennifer Arcella (sr. Hillsdale, NJ/Pascack Valley) tallied a double and two RBIs.  Right fielder Damariz Mercado (fr. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) scored one run and Costello had two hits.

Both teams scored one run in the first inning.  Snead homered in the top half and Inzana had a RBI single in the bottom.  Virginia Wesleyan had a 3-1 lead after scoring one run in the third and fourth innings.  Inzana doubled in the run in the third and Malkos had a RBI in the fourth with a fielder's choice. 

The Marlins' tacked on three more runs in the fifth for a 6-1 advantage.  Bogan drove in one run with a base hit and Dost knocked in two with a double.  The Profs scored two runs in the top of the seventh.  Arcella had a two-RBI double, scoring Mercado and Snead.  

On Sunday, March 2, Rowan plays at Christopher Newport at 10 a.m. and faces Western Connecticut at noon.