Little Falls, NJ (4/29/06) – Junior catcher Jen Lake drove in five runs in the opener, including a grand slam while Colleen Oswald struck out 13 batters in picking up a pair of wins at 10th-ranked Rowan powered its way past Montclair State in New Jersey Athletic Conference Softball action at the MSU Softball Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Rowan won the first game 17-2 and took the nightcap, 9-1.
Lauren Navarro had four RBI in the first game for the Profs, who improved to 37-3 overall and finished their NJAC slate at 15-3.
MEGAN TANTUM had three RBI in the twinbill for the Red Hawks, who have lost four straight and fell to 28-10, 9-9 in the NJAC.
The two teams will meet again on Tuesday, May 2 in Rowan in the opening round of the 2006 NJAC Softball Championship at 4:00 pm.
In the first game, Rowan struck for three runs in the first as Kristin Wallace tripled in two runs and later came around to score on an error. Navarro and Casey Bartlof each had two RBI in a five-run third for the Profs and after Montclair scored twice in the bottom of the inning, Rowan answered that with three runs. Kim Ryan. Lake and Navarro each drove in a run in the inning as the Profs took an 11-2 lead.
Rowan exploded for six in the fifth, four coming off the bat of Lake, who connected on her third homer of the year.
Oswald allowed just two hits as she struck out 11 and walked three in the contest. Wallace, Navarro and Jamie Assini each had three hits for Rowan, which had 16 in the contest.
ATHANASIA TOTARO took the loss for Montclair State as she fell to 13-4.
In the second game, Montclair State took a 1-0 lead in the first as Tantum lofted a sacrifice fly.
Rowan countered with a six-run second inning all with two out. Stacy Haas drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game and Kristina Brenner was issued another walk to put Rowan in front. Assini then singled home two runs and Wallace added a two-run single as Rowan led 6-1.
Oswald picked up her second win of the day as she improved to 29-1 on the season. The righthander walked two and struck out two as she allowed four hits and the one earned run.
MAUREEN SHOCKLEY had two hits for Montclair State.
