Rowan Sweeps Softball in NJAC
Action
UNION, N.J. (4/13/09) - In New Jersey Athletic
Conference softball action, #17 Rowan University (22-6, 9-1 NJAC)
swept a doubleheader from host Kean University (13-15, 4-6 NJAC) on
Monday afternoon, winning the opener, 7-0, and earning a 9-1 win in
six innings in the nightcap.
GAME ONE: Sasko Tosses One-Hitter in Shutout
Victory
Senior right-hander Jackie Sasko (Groveville, N.J.)
retired the final 15 batters of the game to lead Rowan to the 7-0
shutout victory over Kean in the opener.
The Profs got on the board in the fourth inning, as junior
catcher Steph Taraschi (Mt. Ephraim, N.J.) had a one-out
single and freshman third baseman Julie Leskanic (West Milford,
N.J.) followed with a line-drive homerun just over the
right-centerfield fence to give the Profs the 2-0 lead. 
Later in the inning, Rowan eventually loaded the bases and
freshman first baseman Nicki Veneziano (Bloomfield, N.J.)
scored when senior centerfielder Kristina Brenner (Vineland, N.J.)
was hit by a pitch to take a 3-0 lead.
In the sixth inning, Rowan tacked on four more runs when they
took advantage of two hits and two Cougar errors to extend the lead
to 7-0. Junior second baseman Jenna DiDonato (Hamilton,
N.J.) delivered the big hit of the inning, a three-run homerun
off the scoreboard in left field.
Junior third baseman Melissa Dietrich (Carteret,
N.J.) (pictured right) had the lone Cougar hit, a double
of the left-field fence in the second inning.
Sasko (13-2) earned her seventh complete game shutout, striking
out nine batters, while only allowing one hit and two walks.
At the plate, Veneziano recorded a pair of hits, as she was
2-of-3 with one run scored.
GAME TWO: Rowan Takes Nightcap, 9-1
In the nightcap, Rowan scored runs in all but one inning of the
9-1 six-inning victory over the Cougars.
Kean threatened in the top of the first inning, loading the
bases after a walk by senior Sara Steinman (Springfield,
N.J.) and back-to-back singles by juniors Allison
Lizzi (Cherry Hill, N.J.) and Cassie Shotwell
(Dunellen, N.J.), however senior starter Jackie Sasko
recorded the inning-ending strikeout to get Rowan out of the
inning.
The Profs took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning,
as sophomore Ashley Landi (Vineland, N.J.) walked with two
outs and junior Steph Taraschi followed with a homerun to
right field for the early two-run advantage.
Rowan tacked on another run in the bottom of the second inning
on a sacrifice fly by sophomore left-fielder Casey Roselle
(Sparta, N.J.) to score freshman Nicki Veneziano, who
led the inning off with a bunt single.
In the top of the third inning, the Cougars cut into the Rowan
lead, as Lizzi (pictured left) nearly cleared the fence with an RBI
double off the right-centerfield fence to score sophomore
Lindsay Kennedy (Parsippany, N.J.), who had an
one-out single earlier in the inning.
The Profs added one run in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly
by junior Jenna DiDonato before tacking on four more runs
in the fifth inning and the final run in the sixth inning.
For the Cougars, Lizzi finished 2-of-3, while Kennedy and
freshman second baseman Alicia Banz (Carteret,
N.J.) each had a hit.
Taraschi finished 3-of-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, while
Roselle was 2-of-2 with two RBI and two runs scored.
On the mound, sophomore Amanda Singer (Monmouth Junction,
N.J.) picked up the win to improve to 9-4, as she pitched the
final four innings, allowing just three hits with five strikeouts.
The Cougars return to NJAC action on Tuesday, April 14, when
they host New Jersey City University in a doubleheader beginning at
3 p.m.
