Game #1 Box / Game #2 Box

Little Falls, NJ (4/10/10) – The Montclair State softball team had its four-game winning streak snapped as the Red Hawks dropped a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader against Rowan University on Saturday afternoon. Rowan won the first game 12-1 and completed the sweep with an 8-0 victory in the nightcap.

Senior catcher Amanda Livsey (Congers, NY / Clarkstown North) had two hits and drove in a run for the Red Hawks, who fell to 12-10 on the season, 2-4 in the NJAC.

In the first game, right-hander Jamie Minix (so. Clarksboro, NJ/Kingsway Reg.) only allowed two hits in five innings. Minix has a 9-3 pitching record. Righty Elia Persico (sr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) took the loss for the Red Hawks. Persico (6-6) gave up eight hits and 12 runs, nine earned.

Designated player Jamie Parks (sr. Brick, NJ/Brick Twp.) led the Profs with two hits (three at bats), four RBIs, one run scored and a double. Center fielder Nicolina Veneziano (so. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) contributed with two hits in three at bats, one RBI and two runs scored. Third baseman Julie Leskanic (so. West Milford, NJ/West Milford) registered two RBIs, two runs scored and a home run. Second baseman Jenna DiDonato (sr. Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) added two RBIs and two runs scored. Left fielder Casey Roselle (jr. Sparta, NJ/Sparta) and catcher Steph Taraschi (sr. Mt. Ephraim, NJ/Audubon) had one RBI and one run scored apiece. Shortstop Ashley Minch (so. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Mem.) scored two runs.

For the Red Hawks, center fielder Leslie Gonzalez (jr. West New York, NJ/North Bergen) was one for two with one run scored. Left fielder Kelly Nance (sr. Marlboro, NJ/Marlboro) had one hit in two at bats and Livsey registered one RBI.

The Profs jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two runs in the first inning and three in the third. Parks plated Minch and Veneziano with a double in the first. In the third inning, DiDonato drove in two runs with a double and Roselle had a RBI double. Rowan went up 12-0 in the top of the fifth. Leskanic recorded a two-run homer. Veneziano singled in DiDonato and Roselle crossed the plate on a single by right fielder Heidi Smith (sr. Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.). Taraschi singled in a run and Parks knocked in two with a hit. The Red Hawks’ lone run came in the bottom half. Livsey recorded a sacrifice fly that scored Gonzalez.

Left-hander Michelle Black (fr. West Deptford, NJ/West Deptford) pitched six innings in the second game for her second shutout on the season. Black (6-3) scattered four hits and struck out four batters. Righty Jamie Miller (fr. Spotswood, NJ/St. John Vianney) had the loss on the mound. Miller (6-3) gave up 10 hits and eight earned runs.

Rowan designated player Ashley Landi (jr. Vineland, NJ/Vineland) compiled two hits (three at bats), two RBIs, two runs scored and a home run. Minch was two for three with two runs scored, one RBI and a double. Roselle had one hit (two at bats) and two RBIs. Taraschi added two doubles and scored two runs. Leskanic and DiDonato each had one hit (three at bats), one RBI and one run scored.

Livsey was two for two at the plate. Right fielder Tori Ferrante (fr. Edison, NJ/JP Stevens) and second baseman Megan Durkin (sr. West Orange, NJ/West Orange) both had one hit in three at bats.

The Profs had a 5-0 lead at the bottom of the second inning. Leskanic plated Taraschi with a single. Minch followed with a RBI single, scoring Landi. Leskanic came home on a fielder’s choice with DiDonato at the plate. Minch stole home and DiDonato scored on Roselle’s sac fly. Rowan’s three runs in the sixth inning ended the game early. Taraschi led off with a double down the right field line and Landi followed with a two-run shot. Minch got on base with a double to left center field and scored on Roselle’s single up the middle.

Montclair State returns to action on Tuesday, April 13 as MSU goes on the road to Newark, NJ to face Rutgers-Newark in an NJAC twinbill beginning at 3:00 pm.