Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MONTCLAIR, NJ – The Rowan University softball team advanced to the championship round of the New Jersey Athletic (NJAC) Championship Tournament after two wins on Saturday.  The Profs defeated Stockton University, 10-1 in five innings and Ramapo College, 3-0.
 
Rowan (31-10-1) plays The College of New Jersey (31-6) on Sunday, May 6 at 11 a.m. at Montclair State University.  The Profs need two victories against the Lions to capture the conference title while TCNJ only has to win one game.  In the first contest on Saturday, The College of New Jersey shut out Ramapo, 2-0.

Pitcher Jesse DeDomenico (so. East Windsor, NJ/Hightstown) recorded a no-hitter against Ramapo.  She (17-6) struck out six batters for her sixth shutout and second no-hitter on the season.  Christina Brizek (sr. Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) was the losing pitcher (9-3).
 
After three scoreless innings, the Profs had two runs in the fourth inning and they had one more in the fifth.  Smith knocked in Anderson with a double to left center.  Designated player Kelly Duffy (fr. Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Mem.) had a single up the middle, scoring DeDomenico.  In the fifth, first baseman Mackenzie Short (so. Denton, MD/North Caroline) got on base with a single and was replaced by pinch runner Nina Rizzo (fr. Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Reg.).  Rizzo went to second on a passed ball then to third when shortstop Carly Anderson (jr. Nutley, NJ/Nutley) hit a double.  Right fielder Morgan Smith (sr. Millsboro, DE/Sussex Central) walked and moved to second on a wild pitch while Rizzo came home.   
 
Right-hander Lauren Shannon (so. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) was the winning pitcher versus Stockton.  She (12-2) scattered four hits and gave up one earned run.  Pitcher Hannah Bibeault (sr. Hopatcong, NJ/Hopatcong) took the loss (13-6).
 
Smith and Anderson each contributed with a home run and three RBIs.  Anderson ended the game with three hits and two runs. Second baseman Sonia Sharma (fr. Mahwah, NJH/Immaculate Heart Academy) chipped in with two hits (three at bats), a double, one RBI and one run.  Center fielder Kristina Mueller (jr. Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge) added one hit, one RBI and one run.
 
For the Ospreys, left fielder Chelsea Thomas (sr. Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights) was two-for-three at the plate.  Third baseman Casey Schieda (jr. Monroe Twp., NJ/Monroe Twp.) had a home run.
 
The Profs jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning.  Smith produced a three-run homer and Sharma had a RBI double down the left field line.  It was Smith's seventh home run on the season.  Rowan increased its advantage to eight with four runs in the third. Mueller's base hit scored Sharma. Anderson followed with a RBI single and the seventh run came on an error.  Left fielder Jesse DeDomenico (so. East Windsor, NJ/Hightstown) registered a sac fly and Mueller crossed the plate.
 
Schieda's solo shot put Stockton on the scoreboard in the fourth.  The Profs had two more runs in the fifth with a two-run homer by Anderson.

This is Rowan's 29th appearance in the NJAC Championship Tournament and 15th straight.  The Profs have captured the conference title eight times (2014, 2012, 2002, 2001, 1998, 1994, 1990, 1983).  
 
The NJAC Softball Championship Tournament schedule is below. Results and the updated schedule for the conference double elimination tournament will be available at rowanathletics.com and njacsports.com.

Tue., May 1 (at higher seed)
Game 1:  #1 The College of New Jersey 6, #6 William Paterson University 1
Game 2:  #5 Stockton University 4, #2 Rowan University 2
Game 3:  #3 Ramapo College 5, #4 Kean University 4 (at Kean)
 
Fri., May 4 (Montclair State University Softball Field)
Game 4:  Rowan University 1, William Paterson University 0 (9 inn.) (WP is eliminated.)
Game 5:  The College of New Jersey 10, Kean University 0 (5 inn.) (Kean is eliminated.)
Game 6:  Ramapo College 3, Stockton University 1
 
Sat., May 5 (Montclair State University Softball Field)
Game 7:  The College of New Jersey 2, Ramapo College 0
Game 8:  Rowan University 10, Stockton University 1 (5 inn.) (Stockton is eliminated.)
Game 9:  Rowan University 3, Ramapo 0 (Ramapo is eliminated.)
 
Sun., May 6 (Montclair State University Softball Field)
Game 10:  The College of New Jersey (31-6) vs. Rowan University (31-10-1), 11 a.m.
Game 11:  same teams as game 10 (if necessary), TBA