Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WAYNE, NJ – The Rowan University softball team defeated Kean University, 7-0 to win the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament.  The Profs had a 4-2 victory in eight innings over the Cougars in the first game on Sunday to force the if necessary game in the double elimination tournament.  The conference tournament was held at William Paterson University.
 
It is Rowan's (34-10) eighth NJAC title and it receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.  The selections and pairings for the national tournament will be released on Monday, May 5 at 10 a.m. on ncaa.com.  The Profs were the third seed in the NJAC tournament while the Cougars (32-11) were seeded fourth.  Kean had a 4-2 win over Rowan in the first round.    
 
Right-hander Krysti Maronski (sr. Woodbury Heights, NJ/Gloucester County Institute of Technology) recorded her ninth shutout on the season.  She (20-5) only gave up two hits and had eight strikeouts.  Righty Courtney Yard (jr. Stockton, NJ/Hunterdon Central) took the loss.  In 2.2 innings, she allowed four runs on four hits.
 
Second baseman Alysa Romero (jr. Newfield, NJ/Vineland) was two for four with two home runs and three RBIs.  Designated player Ashley DeYoung (so. Oakland, NJ/Indian Hills) contributed with a home run and two runs scored.  Catcher Meagan Lee (sr. Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) produced two hits and two RBIs.  First baseman Damariz Mercado (fr. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) added two hits in three at bats and scored one run.  Shortstop Shilah Snead (so. Malaga, NJ/Delsea Reg.) added one RBI while left fielder Jennifer Arcella (sr. Hillsdale, NJ/Pascack Valley) and right fielder Dana Cafone (so. Galloway, NJ/Absegami) scored one run apiece. 
 
In the bottom of the first inning, DeYoung and Romero recorded back-to-back homers.  Lee drove in two runs with a single to center field in the third inning for a 4-0 advantage.  The Profs scored three times in the sixth.  Snead registered a sacrifice fly and Mercado came home.  DeYoung reached base on a fielder's choice and Romero followed with a home run to left field. 
 
Right-handed pitcher Beth Ann Hyland (so. East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) earned the win in the first game against Kean.  She (14-5) threw seven relief innings and allowed one run on six hits.  Yard gave up four runs and six hits in the loss.
 
Rowan scored two runs in the eighth.  With two outs, Snead walked and she scored on Arcella's double to right field.  DeYoung knocked in Arcella with a single up the middle. 
 
Romero contributed with one hit and one run scored.  Lee was two for three with one RBI.  For Kean, shortstop Kelly Moorehead (sr. Hicksville, NY/Hicksville) was three for four with two RBIs.  Third baseman Amanda Berezny (fr. Washington, NJ/Warren Hills) tallied two hits in four at bats.  Center fielder Sandra Binkiewicz (sr. Belleville, NJ/Belleville) and right fielder Megan Cegielski (sr. Stockton, NJ/Hunterdon Central) each scored one run.  Cegielski had a double. 
 
The Cougars got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning.  Moorehead singled in Cegielski who led off with a double to left center field.  Rowan went ahead 2-1 in the fourth.  Lee plated Arcella with a single to left center then Lee was thrown out going to second and Romero scored.  Kean tied the score in the sixth inning.  Binkiewicz crossed the plate on Moorehead's single up the middle.
 
The NJAC Softball Championship Tournament results are below.

Tue., April 29 (at higher seed)
Game 3:  #4 Kean University 4, #3 Rowan University 2

Thu., May 1 (at higher seeds)
Game 1:  #6 Rutgers-Camden 5, #1 William Paterson University 4
Game 2:  #2 Montclair State University 2,  #5 Richard Stockton College 0

Fri., May 2 (William Paterson Pioneer Softball Field)
Game 4:  #1 William Paterson University 6, #5 Richard Stockton College 1
               (Stockton is eliminated.)
Game 5:  #3 Rowan University 1, #6 Rutgers-Camden 0
Game 6:  #4 Kean University 3, #2 Montclair State University 2

Sat., May 3 (William Paterson Pioneer Softball Field)
Game 7:  #2 Montclair State University 6, #6 Rutgers-Camden 1 (Rutgers-Camden is eliminated.)
Game 8:  #3 Rowan University 4, #1 William Paterson University 1
               (Wm. Paterson is eliminated.)
Game 9:  #4 Kean University 3, #2 Montclair State University 2
               (Montclair State is eliminated.)

Sun., May 4 (William Paterson Pioneer Softball Field)
Game 10:  #3 Rowan University 4,  #4 Kean University 2
Game 11:  #3 Rowan University 7, #4 Kean University 0 
    (Rowan wins conference championship.)