Box Score BABSON PARK, MA – The Rowan University softball team won 4-3 over host Babson College in the second round of the NCAA Regional on Saturday. 
 
The Profs (33-9) advance to the region final on Sunday against Babson (30-14) at noon.  The Beavers survived the loser's bracket with a 1-0 shutout in nine innings over Framingham State University.  In the second game on the day, Framingham State defeated Lesley University, 4-2.
 
Right-hander Jesse DeDomenico (fr. East Windsor, NJ/Hightstown) was the winning pitcher (12-4) and righty Lauren Shannon (fr. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) earned her second save.  Rookie Brooke Stock (fr. Fort Lauderdale, FL/St. Thomas Aquinas) took the loss on the mound.
 
Shortstop Carly Anderson (so. Nutley, NJ/Nutley) paced Rowan with a double, two RBIs and one run.  Designated player Morgan Smith (jr. Millsboro, DE/Sussex Central) contributed with two hits and one RBI.  Center fielder Gianna Genello (so. West Caldwell, NJ/James Caldwell) added two hits and scored two runs.  She also stole two bases for 31 on the season. 
 
Catcher Nicole Paiotti (jr. Oakland, NJ/Indian Hills) chipped in with one hit and one RBI.  DeDomenico crossed the plate one time.  Rowan ended the game with six hits. 
 
For the Beavers, pinch hitter Meaghan Merullo (sr. Winchester, MA/Buckingham, Browne & Nichols) and designated player Annie Quine (so. Santa Monica, CA/Santa Monica) each registered one RBI.  Shortstop Annie Mitchell (fr. Rehoboth, MA/La Salle Academy) recorded a solo home run.  Second baseman Samantha Smith (jr. Hillsborough, NJ/Immaculata) produced two hits in three at bats and scored one run.  First baseman Jacqueline Paul (fr. Burlington, NJ/The Lawrenceville School) had one hit and one run.
 
The Profs led 1-0 after the first inning.  Genello led off with a walk.  After two outs, she stole second and scored on Smith's single to left center.  Rowan was ahead 4-0 after three runs in the second.  Anderson plated DeDomenico and Genello with a double to left center.  Paiotti's single up the middle scored Anderson.
 
Babson got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning.  Samantha Smith came home on Merullo's ground out.  Quine fouled out to left field and Paul scored.  The Beavers trailed 4-3 after Mitchell's homer in the sixth.
 
The national softball tournament is double elimination.  The winner from each regional advances to the Super Regional, Friday-Saturday, May 19-20.  The NCAA Championship Tournament is scheduled for Thursday-Tuesday, May 25-30 at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, OK. 
 
Rowan is making its 25th appearance and seventh straight in the NCAA postseason.  Last year, the Profs finished tied for third in the NCAA Championship Tournament.  Rowan has advanced to the national finals five times and finished fourth in 1994 and 1993.

Babson captured the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference Championship for an automatic berth.  The Beavers have won the conference championship three times and the last one came in 2006.  Babson is playing in the NCAA postseason for the fourth time (2005, 2006, 2013). 
 
The NCAA Regional at Babson schedule and results are below.
 
Friday, May 12
Game 1: #2 Rowan University 4,  #3 Framingham State University 2
Game 2: #1 Babson College 4, #4 Lesley University 0
 
Saturday, May 13
Game 3: Rowan University 4, Babson College 3
Game 4: Framingham State University 4, Lesley University 2 (Lesley is eliminated.)
Game 5: Babson College 1, Framingham State University 0 (9 inn.) (Framingham is eliminated.)
 
Sunday, May 14 - postponed due to weather
Game 6: Rowan University (33-9) vs. Babson College (30-14), noon
Game 7: same teams as game 6 (if necessary), 2:30 p.m.

Monday, May 15
Game 6: Rowan University (33-9) vs. Babson College (30-14), noon
Game 7: same teams as game 6 (if necessary), 2:30 p.m.