Saint Joseph's NCAA Softball Run Ends with 2-0 loss to #10 Rowan University

BABSON PARK, MA - Junior Jennifer Arcella (Hillsdale, N.J.) hit a two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning and classmate Krysti Maronski (Woodbury Heights, N.J.) fired a five-hit shutout as second-seeded Rowan University staved off elimination with a 2-0 win over fifth-seeded Saint Joseph's College at the Babson Park Regional on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field.

The Profs, ranked 10th in the most recent National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll, moved to 39-8 with the victory while Saint Joseph's sees its season come to an end at 34-13.

Maronski, who has a 0.84 ERA on the year, earned her fifth shutout of the season, striking out seven and walking one in the complete-game victory. First-year Shilah Snead (Malaga, N.J.) had three hits to lead the Profs.

Seniors Danyelle Shufelt (Sutton, Vt.) and Heather Tripp (Lovell, Maine) each had two hits to lead the Monks. Sophomore Kim Jordan (Bangor, Maine), who played stellar defense at third base, added a single.

Tripp was stranded after a single to start the second inning and Saint Joseph's loaded the bases in the third as Jordan reached on an error, Shufelt singled and junior Lindsay Moore(Barrington, N.H.) walked. Maronski was able to avoid any damage, though, escaping on an inning-ending groundout by Tripp. The Monks, who left eight on base, also had Jordan and Shufelt at second and third with two outs in the fifth inning but couldn't take advantage.

Rowan left a pair of runners on base in the third and had a golden opportunity to get on the board in the top of the fourth inning when Maronski led off with a single up the middle and Meagan Lee (Mays Landing, N.J.) followed with a one-out double. Senior Kayla Vannah(Waldoboro, Maine) got sophomore Shannon Costello (East Brunswick, N.J.) looking before inducing a groundout from pinch hitter, first-year Ashley DeYoung (Oakland, N.J.), who one pitch earlier had smoked a line drive down the left field line that was just foul.

Sophomore Jessica Phillips (Woolwich, N.J.) singled down the left field line but was thrown out at second base by Saint Joseph's left fielder Theresa Hendrix (Scarborough, Maine) trying to stretch it into a double to lead off the fifth. Snead reached on an infield single one batter later and Rowan finally broke through when Arcella hammered a two-run home run to left centerfield to take a 2-0 lead.

Vannah took the loss for the Monks, allowing the two runs on six hits while striking out two and walking one over 4 1/3 innings to fall to 11-8 on the season. Junior Rae-Marie Copan (Newton, Mass.) allowed just two hits over 2 2/3 innings of work.

Rowan will be back in action on Sunday afternoon when they play fourth-seeded Springfield College in an elimination game starting at 12:00pm.

The loss signals the end of collegiate softball for the Monks' five seniors: Shufelt, Tripp, Vannah,Danielle Leavitt (Spruce Head, Maine) and Kirin Schrum (Littlefield, N.H.). Saint Joseph's posted an impressive 134-42 (.761) overall record, including an 83-15 (.847) mark versus Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) foes, with this group in uniform over the past four years. The overall four-year win total is the most ever recorded by a Saint Joseph's senior class and tops the former tally held by the 1997 class, which went 132-36 (.786) during the 1994-97 campaigns.

GAME NOTES: Saturday's game was the first meeting between Rowan and Saint Joseph's…The Profs' 39th win ties them with last year's team for the second most wins in program history, two wins behind the 2006 squad which won 41 games…The Monks 34 wins is the third-most in program history behind the 1995 and 2011 teams, both of which won 37 contests…Rowan has now won seven elimination games over its last four NCAA appearances (2009, 2011-13)…Saint Joseph's is now 1-3 all-time in elimination games…The Profs are now 3-5 on the season when scoring two runs or less…The Monks, which entered the tournament leading the nation at 2.19 doubles per game, hit only one two-bagger in three regional games.

*COURTESY OF BABSON COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION