TCNJ Defeats Rowan, 4-0 in NJAC First Round

Center fielder Kristina Brenner

Box Score

GLASSBORO, NJ –The College of New Jersey softball team shut out Rowan University, 4-0 in the first round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament on Tuesday.

The two other first round games of the conference tournament were postponed and will be played on Wednesday, April 30 at 4 p.m. TCNJ (24-15), the fourth seed, will play the winner of the #2 Ramapo College and #5 Kean University first round game on Friday, May at 4 p.m. Rowan
(31-8), the third seed, faces the first round winner of #1 Montclair State University and #6 William Paterson University at 1:30 p.m.

The remainder of the NJAC tournament will be played at Montclair State University, Friday-Sunday, May 2-4. For tournament results and the updated schedule go to www.njac.net or www.rowanathletics.com. The conference champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.

Right hander Ashley Minervini (so. Cliffside Park, NJ/Cliffside Park) pitched a complete game for her third shutout and only allowed three hits. Minervini (13-8) struck out six batters. Designated player Camille Heller (jr. Maple Shade, NJ/Maple Shade), right fielder Kelly Armstrong (jr. Jackson, NJ/Jackson Mem.) and Minervini each had one hit and one RBI. Shortstop Ellen Seavers (so. Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) contributed with a double and scored one run.

For Rowan, center fielder Kristina Brenner (jr. Vineland, NJ/Vineland), third baseman Kristin Wallace (sr. Glassboro, NJ/Washington Twp.) and left fielder Casey Roselle (fr. Sparta, NJ/Sparta) each had one hit. Jackie Sasko (jr. Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) took the loss on the mound. Sasko (19-4) gave up five hits and four earned runs.

TCNJ got on the scoreboard with two runs in the sixth inning. Seavers led off with a double and left fielder Colleen Cawley (fr. Riverston, NJ/Holy Cross) followed with a walk. First baseman Christina Lizzi (sr. Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) advanced the runners with a sac bunt. With two outs, Armstrong singled in Seavers and Cawley crossed the plate on a single by Minervini. The Lions added two insurance runs in the seventh. Center fielder Danielle Hagel (so. Egg Harbor City, NJ/Oakcrest) came home on an error and Heller drove in Lizzi with a single.