GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University softball team won two games over Montclair State University, 9-8 and 11-0 in five innings in the last doubleheader of the regular season on Saturday.
The Profs are 28-10 overall while the Red Hawks have a 28-12 record. Rowan finishes second (14-4) in the conference standings and Montclair State is fifth (9-9). In the first round of the NJAC Championship Tournament, Rowan hosts Montclair State on Tuesday, April 30 at 4 p.m.
In the opener, the Profs scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh for the victory. Shortstop
Carly Anderson (sr. Nutley, NJ/Nutley) drove in three runs with a double to right center. Right fielder
Jesse DeDomenico (jr. East Windsor, NJ/Hightstown) knocked in Anderson with a double to right field.
Anderson ended the game with two doubles and two runs. Left fielder
Morgan Zane (fr. Pittsgrove, NJ/A.P. Schalick) contributed with three hits, a double and two RBIs. Third baseman
Cassandra Gerard (sr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) and first baseman
Mackenzie Short (jr. Denton, MD/North Caroline) each added three hits.
Right-hander
Alexa Saccomanno (fr. Kinnelon, NJ/Kinnelon) was the winning pitcher in relief. She (2-0) threw 1.1 innings and did not allow any hits or runs. Righty Nicole Majewski (jr. South Brunswick, NJ/South Brunswick) took the loss (9-4).
Pitcher/first baseman Valentina Cucci (jr. Bronx, NY/The Ursuline School) totaled two hits and two RBIs. Left fielder Blake Saperstein (jr. Livingston, NJ/Livingston) and third baseman Elena Radesich (jr. White Plains, NY/Valhalla) had one hit and two RBIs apiece. Second baseman Taylor Brown (fr. Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) scored two runs.
The Red Hawks got on the scoreboard with four runs in the second inning. First baseman/center fielder Sam DiClementi (sr. Washington Twp., NJ/Washington Twp.) crossed the plate on a passed ball. Shortstop Amber Powers (so. Newton, NJ/Pope John XXIII) had a RBI single and Saperstein plated two runs with a double down the right field line. The Profs scored one run in the bottom half. Catcher
Christina Guarino (so. West Caldwell, NJ/James Caldwell) came home on an error.
Rowan made the score 4-3 in the third. Zane knocked in one run with a double and second baseman
Sonia Sharma (so. Mahwah, NJ/Immaculate Heart Academy) had a sac fly. Montclair State added two runs in the fourth to led 6-3. Cucci singled in a run and Powers touched the plate on a fielder's choice.
Zane cut the deficit to 6-4 with a RBI single in the fifth. The Red Hawks were up 8-4 in the sixth. Cucci and Radesich posted back-to-back RBI hits. Gerard's single in the sixth scored Anderson.
Right-hander
Lauren Shannon (jr. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) recorded the shutout on the mound in the nightcap. She (10-5) gave up four hits and had four strikeouts. Righty Kiara Ruiz (jr. Wharton, NJ/Morris Hills) had the loss (7-4).
Zane was three for three at the plate with two RBIs and two runs. DeDomenico chipped in with a double and a triple, two RBIs and two runs. Anderson produced three hits, one RBI and two runs. Guarino collected two hits and two RBIs and one run. Short had one hit and two RBIs. Sharma scored two runs.
After the second game, Rowan honored its four senior players – second baseman
Gianna Decker (sr. Southampton, NJ/Seneca), center fielder
Kristina Mueller (sr. Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge), Gerard and Anderson.
