GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University softball team won twice against Randolph-Macon College, 7-1 and 2-1 on Monday and captured the NCAA Regional title. The Profs advance to the Super Regional next weekend.
The first game started in the bottom of the fourth inning with no score. It had been suspended on Sunday due to the rain and field conditions. The Profs scored four runs in the fifth inning. With two outs, shortstop
Carly Anderson (jr. Nutley, NJ/Nutley) hit a RBI double, scoring pinch runner
Madison Petroski (fr. Sicklerville, NJ/Timber Creek Reg.). Pitcher
Jesse DeDomenico (so. East Windsor, NJ/Hightstown) followed with a base hit and Anderson came home. Right fielder
Morgan Smith (sr. Millsboro, DE/Sussex Central) recorded a two-run homer to right field.
The Yellow Jackets' run came in the sixth. Center fielder Kerstin Roth (jr. Yorktown, VA/Grafton) crossed the plate on a ground out by first baseman Harley Jones (sr. Brodnax, VA/Brunswick). Rowan added three more runs in the seventh. Anderson plated one run with a single. Designated player
Kelly Duffy (fr. Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Mem.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and DeDomenico scored. Catcher
Christina Guarino (fr. West Caldwell, NJ/James Caldwell) had a RBI single to center field.
The Profs totaled 13 hits for the game. DeDomenico was the winning pitcher. She (22-7) only gave up two hits and one earned run while striking out 11 batters. Pitcher Candace Whittemore (jr. Montpelier, VA/Patrick Henry) suffered the loss (15-4).
Righty
Lauren Shannon (so. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) earned the win on the mound in the second game in relief. She (13-2) threw 5.2 innings and only surrendered one hit and had four strikeouts. Madie Rhoads (fr. Portsmouth, VA/Nansemond River) had the loss (13-3) on the hill.
Second baseman
Sonia Sharma (fr. Mahwah, NJ/Immaculate Heart Academy) and DeDomenico each contributed with two hits. Anderson and Sharma each produced one RBI. First baseman
Mackenzie Short (so. Denton, MD/North Caroline) and Petroski scored one run apiece. Smith had one walk and broke the school career record with 88. The previous mark was 87 by Nicolina Veneziano (2009-12)
For Randolph-Macon, shortstop Savannah Wood (jr. Tappahannock, VA/Essex) was two-for-three with a RBI double. Roth scored the lone run.
The Yellow Jackets led 1-0 after the first inning. Wood drove in Roth with a double to left center. Roth led off with a walk. Rowan tied the score in the second. With two outs, Short walked and center fielder
Kristina Mueller (jr. Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge) followed with a walk. Anderson singled to right, scoring Short. The Profs' winning run came in the sixth. Duffy was hit by a pitch and Petroski took over at first. Guarino moved Petroski to second with a sac bunt. Sharma's hit to left field brought Petroski home.
DeDomenico was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Regional. Rowan players selected to the Regional All-Tournament Team were Shannon, Guarino, Sharma, Anderson and Smith. Randolph-Macon was represented by Wood, Jones and Rhoads. Penn State pitcher Jess Rozick (jr. Bensalem, PA/Bucks Country Technical) was named to the All-Tournament Team.
The Super Regional Round is 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 3, Penn State Berks 0
Game 4: Rowan University 13, College of Staten Island 0 (5 inn.)
(Staten Island is eliminated.)
Game 5: Rowan University 8, Penn State Berks 0 (Penn State Berks is eliminated.)
Sunday, May 13
Game 6: Randolph-Macon College (40-5) vs. Rowan University (34-11-1),
suspended after 3.5 innings
Monday, May 14
Game 6: Rowan 7, Randolph-Macon 1
Game 7: Rowan 2, Randolph-Macon 1 (Rowan advances to Super Regional)
