Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
Ewing, NJ…The College of New Jersey softball team secured the third seed and a home game in the upcoming New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament as the Lions earned a split with 16th-ranked Rowan University on Sunday.
The Profs won the opening game 1-0, but the hosts forged back to take the second by the score of 5-3.
TCNJ finished the conference portion of the schedule compiling a record of 12-6 and are 23-15 overall. Rowan had already locked up the top seed in the tournament and went 15-3 in NJAC play and are 30-8 overall.
Both teams begin the NJAC Tournament on Tuesday with games at 4 p.m. The Lions will host fourth-seeded Ramapo College, while the Profs will host an opponent still to be determined.
Prior to the game, TCNJ recognized its two seniors with Kelly Armstrong (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) and Camille Heller (Maple Shade, NJ/Maple Shade) each being cited for their hard work and dedication.
Rowan University 1, TCNJ 0
Rowan accounted for the only run of the game with an unearned run in the top of the third as Jenna DiDonato (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) singled in Kristina Brenner (Vineland, NJ/Vineland) with a base hit to left field.
Rowan pitcher Jackie Sasko (Groveville, NJ/Steinert) tossed a complete-game to pick up her 17th win of the season.
For the Lions, junior Rachel Greeby (Yardley, PA/Pennsbury) finished with a pair of hits, including a double.
Rowan’s Nicki Veneziano (Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) also finished with two hits.
TCNJ’s Ashley Minervini (Cliffside Park, NJ/Cliffside Park) pitched a strong game in the loss scattering four hits in seven innings allowing only the one unearned run.
TCNJ 5, Rowan University 3
The Lions got off to a fast start in the second game as sophomore Caitlyn Seamster (Edison, NJ/John P. Stevens) dropped a single into left field plating Crystal Lee (Dover, NJ/Morris Knolls) and Armstrong for a 2-0 advantage after a half inning of play.
The Profs cut that deficit in half as Steph Taraschi (Mt. Ephraim, NJ/Audubon) hit a solo home run to left in the fourth. Rowan had a chance to pull even or go ahead later in the inning with the bases loaded and two outs, but Lion relief pitcher Alex Sietsma (Glen Rock, NJ/Glen Rock) came in and struck out the only batter she faced in the frame to get out of the inning.
TCNJ carried that momentum into the fifth as Sietsma helped her own cause with a three-run double to left making it a 5-1 game.
Rowan trimmed off two runs in the sixth inning scoring on consecutive ground outs making it 5-3.
Sietsma picked up the win for the Lions, while Rowan’s Amanda Singer (Monmouth Jct., NJ/East Brunswick) pitched a complete game with eight strikeouts.