Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ALFRED, NY – The Rowan University softball team rallied for a 13-9 victory over Lebanon Valley College in the second round of the NCAA Alfred Regional on Saturday. 
 
The Profs took the lead with five runs in the top of the fifth inning.  Designated player Morgan Smith (fr. Millsboro, DE/Sussex Central) recorded a grand slam, which tied the score at six.  Third baseman Jessica Phillips (sr. Woolwich, NJ/Kingsway Reg.) scored on an error.  In the seventh, Rowan added six more runs while Lebanon Valley had three in the bottom half. 
 
Rowan (38-7) plays Alfred University (37-4) in the championship round on May 10 at 10 a.m.  The Saxons need just one win to advance to the Super Regional while the Profs have to take two games.  The national softball tournament is double elimination.   
 
In the first Saturday contest, Alfred had a 1-0 shutout over Rowan.  Lebanon Valley eliminated Penn State Behrend with a 2-1 victory.  On Friday, Alfred edged Lebanon Valley, 4-3 and Rowan shut out Penn State Behrend, 2-0.
 
Smith ended the game with two hits in four at bats and five RBIs.  Shortstop Shilah Snead (jr. Malaga, NJ/Delsea Reg.) contributed with two hits, two RBIs and two runs.  Left fielder Mia Baldassari (fr. Hoptacong, NJ/Morris Knolls) added two hits, two RBIs and one run.  Catcher Alyssa Sims (jr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill W.) drove in two runs and crossed the plate one time.  First baseman Damariz Mercado (so. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) and Phillips each produced two hits and scored once.  Mercado had a double and one RBI. 
 
Right-hander Beth Ann Hyland (jr. East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) was the winning pitcher in relief.  She (19-5) threw 4.2 innings and allowed three earned runs on six hits.  Haley Neff (jr. Quarryville, PA/Solanco) had the loss on the mound.  In five innings, she (12-13) surrendered four hits and six runs, four earned. 
 
For the Dutchmen, center fielder Sammy Bost (so. Eldersburg, MD/Liberty) was three-for-three with a home run, two RBIs and three runs.  Catcher Emily Johnson (jr. Landisville, PA/Hempfield) totaled two hits, three RBIs, a double and one run.  Designated player Cheyanne Brown (fr. York, PA/William Penn) registered two hits and scored twice.  First baseman Jasmine Dutton (sr. Glenmoore, PA/Owen J. Roberts) tallied two RBIs while right fielder Elaine Gross (so. Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin) and shortstop Jordyn Miller (so. York, PA/Central York) had one apiece. 
 
In the top of the seventh, Smith knocked in second baseman Alysa Romero (sr. Newfield, NJ/Vineland) with a double.  Mercado had a RBI double, scoring pinch runner Amanda Parker (fr. Midland Park, NJ/Midland Park).  Toomer singled home Mercado.  Right fielder Sammy Vradenberg (so. Park Ridge, NJ/Park Ridge) touched the plate on a base hit by Snead.  Baldassari drove in Sims and Snead with a single.
 
Right-hander Kerri Keeler (fr. Jamesville, NY/Jamesville-DeWitt) was the winning pitcher for Alfred.  She (16-0) only allowed two hits in her sixth shutout on the season. Hyland had the loss.  She gave up one earned run on six hits and had five strikeouts.
 
The Saxons scored their winning run in the top of the first inning.  Designated player Alison Wickwire (sr. Towanda, PA/Towanda) doubled in second baseman Dana Torchia (jr. Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock Twp.).  Torchia got on base with a fielder's choice. 
 
The winner from each regional advances to the Super Regional, Friday-Saturday, May 15-16.  The NCAA Division III Championship Tournament is scheduled for Thursday-Tuesday, May 21-26 in Salem, VA.
 
Rowan received an at-large bid to the national tournament.  This is the Profs' 23rd appearance and fifth straight in the NCAAs.
 
The NCAA Regional schedule with results is below.
 
Friday, May 8
Game 1: #2 Alfred University 4, #3 Lebanon Valley College 3
Game 2: #1 Rowan University 2,  #4 Penn State Behrend 0
 
Saturday, May 9
Game 3: #2 Alfred University 1, #1 Rowan University 0
Game 4: #3 Lebanon Valley College 2, #4 Penn State Behrend 1 (Penn State Behrend eliminated)
Game 5: #1 Rowan University 13, #3 Lebanon Valley College 9 (Lebanon Valley eliminated)
 
Sunday, May 10
Game 6: #2 Alfred University vs. #1 Rowan University, 10 a.m.
Game 7: same teams as game 6 (if necessary), 12:30 p.m.