UNION, N.J. --- The third seeded Rowan University softball team won the final elimination game of the 2012 NCAA Division III Union, N.J. Regional with a 3-1 victory over second seed Moravian College Sunday afternoon at Kean University's Cougar Field.
The Profs advance to play top seed Montclair State University in the championship round beginning at 2:00 p.m. Rowan will need to win two games to advance to the 2012 NCAA Division III World Series in Salem, Virginia beginning on Friday, May 18 while the Red Hawks need just one victory.
The Greyhounds finish their 2012 season with a 35-11 record. Moravian, which dropped its first game of the tournament for just the fourth time in 14 trips to the NCAA Division III Tournament, and for the third time, the Greyhounds staved off elimination at least three times. The Greyhounds are 35-29 all-time in NCAA Tournament action.
Moravian went down in order in the top of the first inning to begin the final elimination game.
The Profs would push a run across in the bottom of the first. Sophomore outfielder Jennifer Arcella reached on a one-out infield single, and she moved to second on an error by the Greyhounds with two outs on a ground ball hit by senior shortstop Ashley Minch. Junior designated player Katie Trotter followed with an RBI single to left field to score Arcella.
The Greyhounds would get a runner in scoring position when sophomore catcher Cassie Ernst was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from junior first baseman Amanda Dizinno. However, Rowan senior pitcher Jamie Minix would get two outs including a fly ball to the fence in right field by junior third baseman Shannen Mohr to end the inning.
Moravian would get the next runner on base when sophomore outfielder Miranda Sergas led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a double down the left field line off of the third baseman's glove. Ernst singled to left field with one out but Sergas was thrown out at the plate to keep Rowan's 1-0 lead intact.
The Greyhounds put another runner on base in the top of the fifth inning but were unable to tie the contest. Freshman designated player Jenn Dalickas led off with a single up the middle but would be stranded there.
Rowan threatened with two runners in the home half of the fifth but the Profs were unable to extend their lead. Junior second baseman Nicole Escudero drew a walk with one out, and senior outfielder Lauren Davis singled through the right side of the infield. Moravian shortstop Brook Kowal would turn a double play with a tag and throw on a ground ball hit to her to get the Greyhounds out of the inning.
The Greyhounds would put a runner in scoring position in the top of the sixth but could not get onto the scoreboard. Freshman outfielder Dior George led off the top of the sixth inning with a bunt and reached on an error for Moravian, and she moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sergas.
Rowan would extend its lead to 3-0 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Arcella led off the bottom of the sixth with a single to centerfield, and she moved to second on a wild pitch. Junior first baseman Stephanie Labas followed with an RBI double to the gap in left centerfield to score Arcella. A sacrifice bunt by Minch moved freshman pinch runner Ally Zitzman moving to third. Senior third baseman Julie Leskanic reached on another Moravian error as Zitzman scored for the Profs.
Moravian would get a run in the top of the seventh to break up the shutout. Dizinno was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and freshman Bryanna Gifford came on to pinch run. Gifford scored on a two-out single from junior pinch hitter Alyssa Fegely. Kowal drew a walk before Rowan junior pitcher LeAnne Miller would get a ground out to finish the contest.
The Profs had a 5-4 edge in hits with Arcella going two-for-three with two runs scored.
Minix would earn the victory in the circle for Rowan after allowing three hits and striking out four batters in five innings of action. Miller tossed the final two innings and gave up a run on a hit and walk in two innings of action to earn the save.
Senior pitcher Jenna Carmon fell to 22-7 on the season for the Greyhounds, and she finished her career with a 75-23. She gave up three runs, just one earned, on five hits and a walk to go with three strikeouts.
