GLASSBORO, NJ – The Penn State Berks and Randolph-Macon College softball teams advanced after the first day of competition at the NCAA Softball Regional at Rowan University on Friday.
 
#3 Penn State Berks edged #2 Rowan University, 3-2 and #1 Randolph-Macon shut out #4 College of Staten Island, 1-0.  On Saturday, Rowan (33-11-1) plays Staten Island (23-11) at 2 p.m. and prior Randolph-Macon (39-5) meets Penn State Berks (25-8-1) at 11:30 a.m.  
 
The winner of the Rowan/Staten Island game advances to the nightcap against the loser of the Randolph-Macon/Penn State Berks contest.  The NCAA Tournament is double elimination.
 
Game 1 – Penn State Berks 3, Rowan 2
(Penn State postgame interview)
Penn State Berks scored two runs in the top of the sixth to go ahead 3-2.  Pinch runner Lauren Gabel (fr. Boyertown, PA/Boyertown) replaced right fielder Sophia Cinti (fr. Collegeville, PA/Spring-Ford) who led off with a single to right center.  Gabel advanced to second on pitcher Jess Rozick's (jr. Bensalem, PA/Buck County Technical) base hit.  Center fielder Heather Rissell (jr. Oley, PA/Oley Valley) walked to load the bases. Left fielder Hunter Hart (fr. Langhorne, PA/Neshaminy) reached base on a fielder's choice while Gabel scored on an error.  Rozick crossed the plate on a ground out by shortstop Carley Smith (so. Bensalem, PA/Bensalem). 
 
Rozick went the distance on the mound for the win. She (15-6) scattered eight hits, gave up two earned runs and had eight strikeouts.  At the plate, Rozick totaled two hits (three at bats) and scored two runs. Rowan pitcher Jesse DeDomenico (so. East Windsor, NJ/Hightstown) suffered the loss (19-7).
 
For the Profs, catcher Christina Guarino (fr. West Caldwell, NJ/James Caldwell) contributed with two hits (two at bats) and one RBI.  Shortstop Carly Anderson (jr. Nutley, NJ/Nutley) and designated player Kelly Duffy (fr. Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Mem.) each produced two hits.  Third baseman Cassandra Gerard (jr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) added one hit and one RBI.  Right fielder Morgan Smith (sr. Millsboro, DE/Sussex Central) had one hit and one run.
 
The Nittany Lions got on the scoreboard first in the third inning.  Third baseman Cori Dickinson (fr. Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove) walked with the bases loaded and Rozick came home.  Rowan had two runs in the fourth for a 2-1 lead.  Guarino plated Smith with a single to left field.  Gerard followed with a base hit to left and pinch runner Madison Petroski (fr. Sicklerville, NJ/Timber Creek Reg.) touched home.  
 
Game 2 – Randolph-Macon 1, Staten Island 0
(Randolph-Macon postgame interview) (Staten Island postgame interview)
Designated player Candace Whittemore (jr. Montpelier, VA/Patrick Henry) knocked in Randolph-Macon's winning run with a double in the bottom of the sixth inning.  With two outs, Whittemore's hit was to right center, scoring right fielder Kerstin Roth (jr. Yorktown, VA/Grafton).  Roth had reached base on a fielder's choice.
 
Right hander Madie Rhoads (fr. Portsmouth VA/Nansemond River) was the winning pitcher.  She (13-2) only allowed four hits while striking out 10 batters. Alison Meagher (jr. Clark, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) took the loss.  She (11-5) gave up five hits and one earned run. 
 
Staten Island shortstop Patricia Riches (so. Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph by the Sea) was the only player for both teams to have more than one hit.  She was two-for-three at the plate.     
 
Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for senior citizens and $5 for students and children.  Children age two and under are free.  Rowan IDs and athletic passes are not accepted for postseason tournaments.
 
The winner of the regional advances to the Super Regional Round, Friday-Saturday, May 18-19.  The NCAA Championship Tournament is scheduled for Thursday-Tuesday, May 24-29 at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, OK. 
 
NCAA Regional Schedule at Rowan University

Friday, May 11
Game 1:  #3 Penn State-Berks 3, #1 Rowan University 2
Game 2:  #1 Randolph-Macon College 1,  #4 College of Staten Island 0
 
Saturday, May 12
Game 3:  Randolph-Macon (39-5) (V) vs. Penn State Berks (25-8-1) (H), noon
Game 4:  Rowan University (33-11-1) (V) vs. College of Staten Island (23-11) (H), 2:30 p.m.
Game 5:  winner game 4 vs. loser game 3, 5 p.m.
 
Sunday, May 13 
Game 6:  winner game 3 vs. winner game 5, noon
Game 7:  winner of game 6 vs. loser game 6 (if necessary), 2:30 p.m.