EWING, NJ – The Kean University softball team advanced with a 5-2 win against Rowan University in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament on Saturday.
 
The Cougars (37-6) play the top seed The College of New Jersey (33-6) in the final round on Sunday, May 5 at 11 a.m.  It was the second loss for the Profs (30-12) in the double elimination tournament.  Rowan will have to wait to see if it receives an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament on Monday, May 6 at 1 p.m. when the tournament bracket is announced on the web at ncaa.com.    
 
Right-hander Kaitlin Stahlbrand (sr. Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville) was the winning pitcher.  She (4-1) threw a complete game.  Carly Anderson (sr. Nutley, NJ/Nutley) suffered the loss in her first appearance on the mound in relief.
 
Third baseman Cayleen Rizo (sr. Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) contributed with two hits, two RBIs and one run.  Right fielder Caroline Ratti (sr. South Plainfield, NJ/Plainfield) and Stahlbrand each had one hit and one run.  
 
Anderson was three for three at the plate. Catcher Christina Guarino (so. West Caldwell, NJ/James Caldwell) totaled one hit and one RBI.  Right fielder/pitcher Jesse DeDomenico (jr. East Windsor, NJ/Hightstown) added one RBI.
 
The Profs tied the score at two in the top of the fifth inning.  Guarino drove in pitcher/shortstop Alexa Saccomanno (fr. Kinnelon, NJ/Kinnelon) with a base hit up the middle.  In the bottom half, the Cougars went ahead 4-2 with two runs.  Rizo crossed the plate on an error and later center fielder Katie Debbie (so. Mountainside, NJ/Governor Livingston) also came home due to an error.  Kean added an insurance run in the sixth.  Rizo singled down the left field line and pinch runner Tatiana Yourstone (jr. Edison, NJ/Edison) scored. 
 
Rowan led 1-0 after the second inning. DeDomenico walked with the bases loaded and first baseman Mackenzie Short (jr. Denton, MD/North Caroline) touched home. Kean went ahead 2-1 after one run in the third and fourth innings.  Rizo had a RBI single up the middle in the third while Ratti scored on an error in the fourth.

This was 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 results and schedule are 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:  Montclair State University 6, Stockton University 1 (Stockton is eliminated.)
Game 5:  The College of New Jersey 4, Ramapo College 0 (Ramapo is eliminated.)
Game 6:  Rowan University 7, Kean University 5 (9 inn.)
 
Sat., May 4 (Dr. June Walker Field, The College of New Jersey)
Game 7:  The College of New Jersey 5, Rowan 2
Game 8:  Kean University 6, Montclair State University 3 (Montclair State is eliminated.)
Game 9:  Kean University 5, Rowan University 2 (Rowan is eliminated.)
 
Sun.,May 5 (Dr. June Walker Field, The College of New Jersey)
Game 10: The College of New Jersey (33-6) vs. Kean University (37-6), 11 a.m.
Game 11: if necessary, same as game 10, 1 p.m.