EWING, NJ – The College of New Jersey softball team won 5-2 over Rowan University in the third round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament on Saturday.
 
The Profs (30-11) have to play a second contest on Saturday at 2 p.m. versus the winner of the Montclair State University/Kean University game.  The top seeded Lions (33-6) advance to the final round on Sunday, May 5.  The conference tournament is at TCNJ's Dr. June Walker Field.  
 
The NJAC tournament is double elimination. The conference champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.
 
TCNJ scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to go ahead 5-2.  Shortstop Megan Mayernik (jr. Columbus, NJ/Northern Burlington Reg.) and left fielder Allie Immerso (so. Brick, NJ/Brick Mem.) each had a RBI single.  Right fielder Katie Winchock (so. Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater Raritan) grounded out, scoring Mayernik.
 
Center fielder Gaby Bennett (sr. Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) contributed with a home run.  Designated player Annalise Suitovsky (jr. Warren Twp., NJ/Watchung Hills) had two hits and scored one run.  Alanna Namit (so. Mountainside, NJ/Governor Livingston) was the winning pitcher in relief.  She went four innings and only gave up one run.  Right-hander Jesse DeDomenico (jr. East Windsor, NJ/Hightstown) suffered the loss (17-6) in 4.1 relief innings.
 
For Rowan, left fielder Morgan Zane (fr. Pittsgrove, NJ/A.P. Schalick) totaled two hits and one RBI.  Shortstop Carly Anderson (sr. Nutley, NJ/Nutley) registered two hits in three at bats.  Third baseman Cassandra Gerard (sr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) and designated player Kelly Duffy (so. Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Mem.) each produced one hit and one run.  Catcher Christina Guarino (so. West Caldwell, NJ/James Caldwell) had one RBI.  
 
The Lions had a 1-0 lead after Bennett's homer in the second inning.  Rowan scored two runs in the top of the fourth and TCNJ had one in the bottom half. Zane drove in Gerard with a single up the middle.  Duffy came home on Guarino's sacrifice fly.  Mayernik reached first on an error and pinch runner Francesca Pugliese (sr. Langhore, PA/Villa Joseph Marie) scored.    
 
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 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:  Montclair State University (29-13) vs. Kean University (35-6), noon
Game 9:  Rowan University (30-11) vs. winner of game 8, 2 p.m.
 
Sun.,May 5 (Dr. June Walker Field, The College of New Jersey)
Game 10: The College of New Jersey (33-6) vs. winner game 9, 11 a.m.
Game 11: if necessary, same as game 10, 1 p.m.