GLASSBORO, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Rowan University, the No. 14 team in the country proved too much for the New Jersey City University softball team when the two matched up on April 6 at the Rowan Softball Field. The Profs pitching staff held the Gothic Knights to just four hits on the day, while the Rowan bats broke out for 21 combined runs in the two games, winning 8-0 and 13-0, both in five innings.
 
It was the 2019 home opener for the Profs, who improved to 18-6 overall and 6-0 in the NJAC. The Knights are now 4-20 overall and 0-6 in the NJAC.
 
Freshman outfielder Gisselle Vigil (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) was the leading hitter for the Knights, collecting a hit in each game. Senior right-handed pitcher Christina Mezey (Jersey City, NJ/Saint Dominic Academy) pitched all 10 innings for the Knights, allowing just three earned runs in the first game.
 
Rowan junior Lauren Shannon (Sewell, N.J.) tossed a complete game two-hitter in the first game, striking out 13 and walking just one. Freshman outfielder Morgan Zane (Pittsgrove, N.J.) had quite the day at the plate for the Profs, going 6-for-6 with four runs, an RBI, a double, and a walk in her seven plate appearances on the day.
 
GAME 1: Rowan 8, NJCU 0 (5 innings)
NJCU got the first hit of the game in the second inning, when Mezey singled to right and when freshman first baseman Emma Herrick (Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) was hit by a pitch, the Knights had runners on first and second with no one out. The next three Knights were sent down in order, however, all strikeouts looking, to end the inning.
 
Mezey held the Profs off the board in the second as well, but Rowan broke the seal in the third, and then broke the game open in the fourth and fifth innings, with four runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to enforce the eight-run rule. Rowan took advantage of four NJCU errors to take game one of the doubleheader.
 
Shannon was locked in, striking out 13 of the 18 batters she faced, improving to 8-2. She struck out the side in the first, third and fourth innings and nine consecutive batters between the second and fourth. Zane was 3-for-3 with two runs while sophomore second baseman Sonia Sharma (Mahwah, N.J.) was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
 
GAME 2: Rowan 13, NJCU 0 (5 innings)
In game two of the day, it was two big innings that hurt the Knights, with Rowan pushing across five runs in the second and seven runs in the third, while three different pitchers combined for the shutout.
 
Once again, the Knights had a couple of runners early, with Dulce Almonte (Jersey City, NJ/Snyder via County Prep) singling with one out in the first inning before Herrick drew a walk, but a double play erased any threat, and the Knights did not collect another hit until the fifth inning.
 
Senior shortstop Carly Anderson (Nutley, N.J.) was 2-for-3 with three runs and two RBIs while junior pitcher/center fielder Jesse DeDomenico (East Windsor, N.J.) drove in three runs and scored twice, batting 2-for-3. Freshman center fielder/pitcher Alexa Saccomanno (Kinnelon, N.J.) was 3-for-3 with two runs. Zane went 3-for-3 with two runs, Sharma scored twice (2-for-3). Sophomore designated player Kelly Duffy (Sayreville, N.J.) was 2-for-2 and sophomore right fielder Rebecca Lombardo (New Egypt, N.J.) added a 2-for-3 effort as Rowan collected 18 hits. DeDomenico collected the win in the circle (8-4), allowing one hit in 3.0 innings.
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: Rowan leads, 42-0.
• Rowan ranked tied for 14th nationally in the April 3, 2019 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III poll.

 
UP NEXT:
The Knights return home to host NJAC rival William Paterson University (14-8, 1-5 NJAC) on Tuesday, April 9 in a doubleheader with first pitch of game one at 3:00 p.m. at NJCU's Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.  Watch live on #GothicVision at www.NJCUGothicKnights.com/GothicVision or live stats https://njcugothicknights.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary.
 
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