JERSEY CITY, NJ…Rowan University, ranked #10 in Division III in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll, received a 10-strikeout, one-hit performance by senior right-hander Colleen Oswald (Sewell, NJ/Paulsboro) in game one, and four RBIs from senior shortstop Casey Bartolf (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) in the nightcap, as the Profs swept a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader from New Jersey City University, 8-0 in six innings and 15-5 in five, at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.
Rowan improves to an impressive 35-3 on the season and 11-3 in the NJAC, by winning its eighth consecutive game and for the 14th time in 16 contests. NJCU (9-26, 0-16) drops its 18th straight game. The doubleheader was NJCU’s final home contests of the season.
In the opener,
Oswald was almost untouchable as she improved her near-flawless record to 27-1 overall. The only base-runner of the contest was the opposing pitcher, as NJCU freshman right-hander
ANDREA DELUCREZIA (Belleville, NJ/St. Mary’s-Rutherford) led off the second frame with a single. Otherwise,
Oswald fanned 10, including six swinging, and struck out the side in the first inning. She walked none and Rowan did not commit an error.
Offensively, four Rowan players had multiple hits as the Profs collected 12 in the game. Junior designated player/catcher Jen Lake (Carneys Point, NJ/Penns Grove) was 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. Her two-run homer to right in the top of the first inning—her second homer of the year—provided all the offense Rowan would need. Combined in the two games, Lake was 3-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs scored.
Senior centerfielder Katie Lavin (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) was 2-for-2 with two runs, and one RBI. She had one steal in each game of the twinbill, giving her 25 swipes overall.
Sophomore second baseman Lauren Navarro (West Milford, NJ/West Milford), who was a combined 4-for-6 with three runs and two RBIs on Thursday, was 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI in the win. Junior first baseman Jamie Assini (Deptford, NJ/East Brunswick) was 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI. She scored four runs during the two games.
While it was a dominant pitching performance for Rowan in game one, the nightcap was primarily an offensive affair. Again, four Rowan players had multiple hits, including two with three.
After NJCU scored once in the top of the first, Rowan, the home team in game two, scored nine times as 12 batters came to the plate in the bottom of the inning. NJCU scored four times in the second to close the gap to 9-5, before Rowan added a single run in the second and five in the third to enforce the eight-run rule after five innings.
Bartolf led the way offensively for the Profs, with four RBIs and two runs in a 3-for-3 showing. Sophomore third baseman Kristin Wallace (Glassboro, NJ/Washington Township) added three RBIs and two runs in a 3-for-3 effort. Bartolf and Wallace each doubled twice. Assini walked all four times she came to the plate in the second game, scoring three runs.
Senior designated player Jen Williscroft (Tuckerton, NJ/Pinelands Regional) was 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs while Navarro was 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI. Lake was 1-for-2 with two RBIs and one run in the nightcap.
In defeat, NJCU received three RBIs, two doubles, and a 2-for-3 performance from sophomore shortstop
SUSIE MATSUTANI (Gallup, NM/Gallup), who added one run and combined for 10 defensive outs without an error at shortstop, to raise her fielding percentage to an outstanding .990.
Sophomore righty Amanda Riegel (Millville, NJ/Sacred Heart) earned the win for Rowan to improve to 7-1. She allowed two earned runs (five total) and six hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 3.0 innings of work. Freshman righty Danielle Lawlor (Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn) scattered two hits with two strikeouts in 2.0 innings of relief.
Delucrezia took the loss (9-19) in each game. In game one, she allowed just five earned runs and 12 hits, with one walk. She tossed two innings in game two, and was charged with five earned runs (10 total) and eight hits with two walks.
NJCU will close out the season on Saturday, April 29 at 1 p.m. in an NJAC doubleheader at The College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ. Rowan faces Montclair State University at the same time.
04/27/2006 at Jersey City, NJ
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Rowan University.... 220 112 - 8 12 0 (34-3)
New Jersey City Univ 000 000 - 0 1 3 (9-25)
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WP-Oswald (27-1) LP-Delucrezia (9-18) T-1:00 A-50 HR ROW - Lake (2)
04/27/2006 at Jersey City, NJ
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New Jersey City Univ 140 00 - 5 8 2 (9-26)
Rowan University.... 915 0X - 15 12 1 (35-3)
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WP-Riegel (7-1) LP-Delucrezia (9-19) T-1:10 A-50
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