Box Score MONTCLAIR, NJ – The Rowan University softball team won 3-2 in eight innings over The College of New Jersey to force a second game for the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) title on Sunday.  The conference tournament is at Montclair State University.
 
It was the first loss for the Lions (31-7) in the conference's double elimination tournament.  The two teams play again on Sunday afternoon.  TCNJ is the top seed in the NJAC tournament while Rowan (32-10-1) is the second seed.
 
The Profs were trailing 2-0 going into the bottom of the seventh inning.  Center fielder Kristina Mueller (jr. Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge) led off with a single and shortstop Carly Anderson (jr. Nutley, NJ/Nutley) recorded a homer to left field.  It was her fifth home run on the year.    
 
In the eighth, third baseman Cassandra Gerard (jr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) started the inning with a walk.  She was replaced by pinch runner Rebecca Lombardo (fr. New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt).  With two outs, Mueller hit a single to right field while Anderson and pitcher Jesse DeDomenico (so. East Windsor, NJ/Hightstown) followed with back-to-back walks to load the bases.  Right fielder Morgan Smith (sr. Millsboro, DE/Sussex Central) drove in Lombardo for the winning run with a single to left field.
 
DeDomenico threw three relief innings for the win. She (18-6) only gave up one unearned run.  It was the first loss on the season for pitcher Alanna Namit (fr. Mountainside, NJ/Governor Livingston) who has a 17-1 record on the mound.
  
The Lions scored one run in the fifth and sixth innings.  In the fifth, left fielder Allie Immerso (fr. Brick, NJ/Brick Mem.) led off with a single and continued to second on an error.  Second baseman Annalise Suitovsky (so. Warren Twp., NJ/Watchung Hills) advanced Immerso to third with a sacrifice bunt.  Shortstop Megan Mayernik (so. Columbus, NJ/Northern Burlington Reg.) brought Immerso home with a bunt single.
 
Center fielder Gaby Bennett (jr. Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) scored in the sixth.  She reached base on an error and advanced to second on a sac bunt by catcher Jess McGuire (jr. Stockton, NJ/Hunterdon Central Reg.).  Bennett stole third on a double steal and crossed the plate on pinch hitter Danielle Carey's (sr. Maple Shade, NJ/Maple Shade) ground out.  
 
Ammerso ended the game with two hits and one run.  Mueller was two-for-three with two runs scored.  Gerard contributed with a double.
 
The NJAC Softball Championship Tournament results are below. 

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:  Rowan University 3, The College of New Jersey 2 (8 innings)
Game 11:  Rowan University vs. The College of New Jersey, 2:15 p.m.