NJAC Tournament Bracket

GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University softball team won 6-1 over Montclair State University in the first round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament.
 
The Profs (29-10) are the second seed and they play the third seed Kean University (35-5) at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 3 at The College of New Jersey.  The remainder of the conference tournament on Friday-Sunday, May 3-5 will be held at Dr. June Walker Field.  The fifth seed Red Hawks (28-13) face the sixth seed Stockton University (22-19) on Friday at 11 a.m.
 
The NJAC tournament is double elimination. The conference champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.
 
Right-hander Jesse DeDomenico (jr. East Windsor, NJ/Hightstown) went the distance for the victory.  She (16-5) scattered eight hits, allowed one run and had four strikeouts. Righty Valentina Cucci (jr. Bronx, NY/The Ursuline School) took the loss (8-4).
 
Left fielder Morgan Zane (fr. Pittsgrove, NJ/A.P. Schalick) totaled two doubles and three RBIs.  Designated player Kelly Duffy (so. Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Mem.) contributed with one hit and two RBIs.  Third baseman Cassandra Gerard (sr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) had two hits, one RBI and one run.  Shortstop Carly Anderson (sr. Nutley, NJ/Nutley) scored two runs and center fielder Kristina Mueller (sr. Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge) added two hits.  
 
For Montclair State, right fielder/catcher Lia Stamile (sr. Rockville Centre, NY/South Side) was two for two at the plate. Second baseman Taylor Brown (fr. Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) collected two hits.  Left fielder Blake Saperstein (jr. Livingston, NJ/Livingston) registered one hit and one RBI.  Designated player Kaylee Powers (jr. Newton, NJ/Pope John XXIII) scored one run.
 
The Profs led 2-0 after the first inning. Duffy produced a sac fly, scoring Anderson.  Zane drove in DeDomenico with a double to left center.  After three scoreless innings, the Red Hawks got on the scoreboard in the fifth.  Powers crossed home plate on a single by Saperstein to right field.  Rowan added two runs in the bottom half for a 4-1 advantage when Zane recorded a two-RBI double.  
 
The Profs sealed the win with two runs in the sixth inning.  Gerard was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and pinch runner Shea Branda (jr. Toms River, NJ/Toms River E.) came home.  Anderson scored when Duffy walked with the bases loaded.
 
This is Rowan's 30th appearance in the NJAC Championship Tournament and 16th straight.  The Profs have captured the conference title 10 times (2018, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2002, 2001, 1998, 1994, 1990, 1983).  
 
The NJAC Softball Championship Tournament schedule is below.  
 
Tue., April 30 (at higher seed)
Game 1:  #1 The College of New Jersey 3, #6 Stockton University 2
Game 2:  #2 Rowan University 6, #5 Montclair State University 1
Game 3:  #3 Kean University 4, #4 Ramapo College 0
 
Fri., May 3 (Dr. June Walker Field, The College of New Jersey)
Game 4:  Stockton University (22-19) vs. Montclair State University (28-13), 11 a.m.
Game 5:  The College of New Jersey (31-6) vs. Ramapo College (22-13), 1 p.m.
Game 6:  Rowan University (29-10) vs. Kean University (35-5), 3 p.m.
 
The remainder of the schedule will be determined after game six.