Box Score Postgame Interviews

ITHACA, NY  – The Rowan University softball team defeated Ithaca College, 1-0 in the final of the NCAA Regional on Sunday.  The Profs advance to the Super Regional, Thursday-Friday, May 15-16.
 
Rowan (37-10) will play at the University of Rochester (30-12) in the Super Regional.  The national softball tournament is double elimination.  The NCAA Championship Tournament is scheduled for Thursday-Monday, May 22-26 at the University of Texas at Tyler.     
  
The Profs scored the winning run in the third inning.  Center fielder Shannon Costello (jr. East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) led off with a walk.  First baseman Damariz Mercado (fr. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) moved Costello to second with a sacrifice bunt.  Shortstop Shilah Snead (so. Malaga, NJ/Delsea Reg.) followed with a single and she stole second.  Left fielder Jennifer Arcella (sr. Hillsdale, NJ/Pascack Valley) grounded out to first base and Costello scored.
 
Right-hander Krysti Maronski (sr. Woodbury Heights, NJ/Gloucester County Institute of Technology) recorded her 10th shutout on the season.  She (23-5) only gave up three hits and struck out nine batters.  Maronski was selected the Most Outstanding Player and to the Regional All-Tournament Team.  In the regional, she posted a 3-0 record with a 0.41 earned run average and 20 strikeouts.  Pitcher Sam Bender (sr. Levittown, PA/Neshaminy) had the loss.  She (18-7) allowed six hits and one run.
 
The All-Tournament Team also included Snead, Arcella and Costello.  Snead had two hits in three at bats.  Arcella was one for three.  Catcher Meagan Lee (sr. Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest), designated player Ashley DeYoung (so. Oakland, NJ/Indian Hills) and Maronski each contributed with a hit.  Costello had a .857 regional batting average with six hits in seven at bats, two doubles, one RBI and three runs scored.  Arcella hit .500 and Snead batted .455.   
 
Rowan received an automatic bid to the national tournament as the champion of the New Jersey Athletic Conference.  This is the Profs' 22nd appearance and fourth straight in the NCAAs.
 
For the Bombers (26-14), shortstop Francesca Busa (jr. St. James, NY/Smithtown E.), second baseman Julianne Vincent (sr. Stamford, CT/Westhill) and designated player Kelly Robichaud (so. Vernon, CT/East Catholic) had one hit apiece. 

The results for the Ithaca Regional are below.

Friday, May 9
Game 1: #2 Rowan University 7, #3 SUNY Oneonta 0
Game 2: #1 Ithaca College 2, #4 Penn State Altoona 1
 
Saturday, May 10
Game 3: #2 Rowan University 7, #1 Ithaca College 1
Game 4: #3 SUNY Oneonta 3,  #4 Penn State Altoona 2 (Penn State Altoona is eliminated.)
Game 5: #1 Ithaca College 4, #3 SUNY Oneonta 3 (SUNY Oneonta is eliminated.)
 
Sunday, May 11
Game 6: #2 Rowan University 1, #1 Ithaca College 0 (Rowan wins region title.)