Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University softball team defeated New Jersey City University, 10-1 and 12-0 in a conference doubleheader on Saturday.  Both games only went five innings due to the eight run rule.
 
Right-hander Lauren Shannon (fr. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) was the winning pitcher in the first contest.  She (13-0) only gave up two hits and one earned run while striking out six.  Christina Mezey (so. Jersey City, NJ/Saint Dominic Academy) had the loss on the mound.  
 
Third baseman Cassandra Gerard (so. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) paced the Profs with two hits, three RBIs and one run.  She posted a double and a home run.  Right fielder Kristina Mueller (so. Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge) contributed with three hits (three at bats), two RBIs and one run.  Second baseman Gianna Decker (so. Southampton, NJ/Seneca) totaled two hits, two RBIs and three runs.  She recorded a triple and a home run. 
 
Center fielder Gianna Genello (so. West Caldwell, NJ/James Caldwell) chipped in with two hits and two runs.  Left fielder Mia Baldassari (jr. Lake Hopatcong, NJ/Morris Knolls), designated player Morgan Smith (jr. Millsboro, DE/Sussex Central) and first baseman Damariz Mercado (sr. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) each tallied one RBI.  Shortstop Carly Anderson (so. Nutley, NJ/Nutley) scored twice.  For the Gothic Knights, catcher Hannah Gavin (so. Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown Reg.) had a home run.    
 
Genello led off the first inning with a single and she stole second.  With two outs, Gerard plated Genello with a double to center field.  The Profs were ahead 5-0 after four runs in the second.  Mueller had a bunt single that scored Anderson.  Decker crossed the plate on Mercado's sacrifice fly.  Baldassari doubled home Mueller with a hit down the left field line.  Genello scored on a ground out by Smith. 
 
Decker's homer to left field was a two run shot in the third inning.  Gerard also had a two run blast in the fourth and Decker scored on Mueller's base hit.  It was Gerard's second home run of her career and the first for Decker.  Gavin spoiled the shutout with a solo shot in the fifth.   
 
Righty Ashley Lesch (jr. Rockaway, NJ/Morris Knolls) recorded the shutout in the nightcap.  She (4-1) allowed four hits.  Mezey started on the hill again and suffered the loss. 
 
Rowan, ranked fifth in the nation, has a 27-3 record with an 8-2 mark in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC).  New Jersey City drops to 8-14 overall and 0-10 in the conference.
 
Catcher Nicole Paiotti (jr. Oakland, NJ/Indian Hills) went three for four with a home run and five RBIs.  Baldassari and Smith each totaled two hits and two RBIs.  Genello produced three hits in four trips to the plate, one RBI and two runs.  Anderson had two hits, one RBI and two runs.  Mercado added one RBI and one run.
 
The Profs jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning.  Baldassari knocked in the first run with a triple to right center and Smith followed with a RBI double.  Smith and Anderson came home on Paiotti's single up the middle.
 
Rowan exploded for eight runs in the third.  Paiotti slammed a two run homer to center field, which was her third on the year.  Mercado doubled in one run and Genello drove in one with a base hit.  Baldassari grounded out to second base and Mercado scored.  Smith, Anderson and Paiotti all had RBI singles.
 
Rowan travels to Rutgers-Camden on Tuesday, April 18 for a NJAC doubleheader at 3 p.m.