Ewing, NJ... Kean University and Richard Stockton College will meet for the New Jersey Athletic Conference Softball Tournament title as the both teams collected key victories on the third day of the tournament on Saturday in Ewing.

The Cougars started the day with a 6-2 win over Richard Stockton to move into Sunday's championship round. Rowan University then edged The College of New Jersey 2-1 sending the Profs in the day's third game against Richard Stockton. The Ospreys scored a late run to come away with a 3-2 win over the Rowan.

If the Cougars win Sunday's 11 a.m. game, they will win the tournament, but if the Ospreys win the two teams will return to the field for a second game with the victor of that contest garnering the conference's automatic bid to the 2010 NCAA Division III Tournament. No matter the outcome, it would be the first conference championship for either school.

Rowan University 2, The College of New Jersey 1 - Box score

TCNJ dropped a 2-1 decision to Rowan eliminating the Lions from the NJAC Tournament.

TCNJ (31-8) will now wait to hear word from the NCAA selection committee in hopes of receiving an at-large bid into the 2010 NCAA Championships. Team seedings and regional sites will be announced on Monday at noon. The Lions entered the NJAC post-season with a #6 ranking in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll.

The Lions took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning, but were unable to generate any more runs off of Rowan starting pitcher Jaime Minix (Clarksboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional). Minix (18-6) put forth a great effort on the mound pitching a complete game, giving up just four hits while striking out six.

TCNJ got that run as freshman Kelly Hommen (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and was pinch-run for by Michelle Casale (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex). She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt senior Ellen Seavers (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood), and advanced to third base when Dani Hagel (Egg Harbor City, NJ/Oakcrest) legged out an infield single.

Hagel promptly stole second and Casale scored the first run of the game on a bunt by Colleen Cawley (Riverton, NJ/Holy Cross).

Rowan answered in fifth to tie the game 1-1. Stephanie Labas (Millville, NJ/Millville) reached first on an infield single despite the brave efforts by Lions second baseman Ashley Sogluizzo (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South). Roselle then doubled to left field bringing home Labas to even the score.

In the sixth, the Profs took the lead 2-1. Senior Jenna DiDonato (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) singled to left to lead off the inning and advance to second on a sacrifice bunt. Sophomore Nicolina Veneziano (Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) drove a base hit to left-center to knock in DiDonato, which proved to be the game-winner.

Senior Ashley Minervini (Cliffside Park, NJ/Cliffside Park) was the tough-luck loser giving up just six hits and striking out seven. Sophomore Crystal Lee (Dover, NJ/Morris Knolls) had two hits in the game.

Kean University 6 Richard Stockton College 2  - Box score

Kean University continued its spotless post-season play as they defeated Richard Stockton 6-2 in the winner's bracket final of the tournament at Lions' Park.

The Ospreys (23-14) opened the scoring in the bottom half of the second as Kelly Dodd (Linwood, NJ/Mainland) drilled a solo home run to center field.

Kean (28-14) didn't trail for long as the Cougars plated three runs in the third. The first of those came on a double by Allison Lizzi (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West), while Katie Yard (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) laced a two-run single to left to make it a 3-1 game.

The Cougars tacked on two runs in the fifth when Courtney Melchionna (Linden, NJ/Linden) led off with a single and Alicia Banz (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) doubled to deep left. Pinch-runner Kelsey Hannan (Saddle Brook, NJ/Immaculate Conception) scored on a Katie Schuh (Mount Holly, NJ/Rancocas Valley) groundout and Banz came across the plate on an error.

The Ospreys, who hammered out 11 hits the day before, were held in check by Cougars' starting pitcher Cassie Shotwell (Dunellen, NJ/Dunellen). They did manage to close the gap with a run in the sixth as Dodd struck again ripping an RBI double to left-center. But Shotwell got a strikeout and a groundout to end the inning.

Kean added an insurance run in the seventh and Shotwell closed out the game in the seventh to win her third straight tournament game and 16th win of the season.

Richard Stockton College 3, Rowan University 2   Box Score

Richard Stockton (24-14) scored the deciding run in the top of the sixth as Katelyn Derewecki (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) singled to left to plate Jessica Sneddon (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) raced home from second base for a 3-2 advantage.

Gasko went the distance for the Ospreys as she picked up her 11th win of the season.

The Ospreys grabbed the early lead with a pair of unearned runs getting one in the opening inning and the other in the third.

The Profs (28-13) battled back in the last of the fifth as they scored twice with Labas drove in one with a ground out and Casey Roselle (Sparta, NJ/Sparta) accounted for the other with a base hit to center field.

Sophomore Danielle Accardi (East Brunswick, NJ/Mount St. Mary) had a big game at the plate for the Ospreys with a pair of doubles. 

Richard Stockton College 1,  Kean University 0 - Box score

Richard Stockton College defeated Kean University 1-0 to force a second and final game in the New Jersey Athletic Championship tournament.

Sophomore Jaime Gasko (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) was the story for the Ospreys (25-14) as threw a complete-game shutout, striking out six in the win. She also scored the game's only run as she tripled to lead off the bottom of the seventh and crossed home plate on an infield error for the win.

The game remained scoreless through the first six innings as Cassie Shotwell (Dunnellen, NJ/Dunnellen) and Gasko (12-3) were locked in a classic pitcher's duel. Shotwell (16-7) kept the ball down all day inducing 12 ground ball outs compared to just one putout in the air.

The Cougars (28-15) strung together three hits in the fifth, but Gasko worked her way out of the bases loaded jam with a strikeout.

The Ospreys threatened in the sixth with a walk and a stolen base. But with a runner on second base, Shotwell got a strikeout and a lineout to shortstop to escape the inning unscathed.

Shotwell helped herself out by singling up the middle to lead off the seventh. Pinch-runner Sam Gniazdowski (Union, NJ/Roselle Catholic) advanced to second when Courtney Melchionna (Linden, NJ/Linden) ripped a single through the middle.

Freshman Katie Zolli (Roselle Park, NJ/Union Catholic) bunted to move the runners up but slipped the ball past the Stockton first baseman to load the bases with nobody out. But after two force-outs at the plate, Gasko recorded her sixth strikeout of the game to keep the game 0-0, setting up her heroics in the bottom of the frame.

Kean and Richard Stockton square off in the winner-take-all championship game. A win for either team would earn them their first-ever New Jersey Athletic Conference title. An Ospreys victory would mean the program's first appearance in the NCAA Championship tournament. 

Championship Game: Kean University 3  Richard Stockton 0 - Box score

The Kean University softball team won its first New Jersey Athletic Conference title in program history defeating Richard Stockton College 3-0.

The win gives the Cougars an automatic bid to the 2010 NCAA Championships.
Junior Courtney Smith (Abington, PA/Abington) did an exceptional job tossing a complete-game shutout, scattering five hits, allowing just one walk while striking out three.

Kean (29-15) got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Gabi Ciacciarelli (Howell, NJ/Howell) was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Katie Zolli (Roselle Park, NJ/Union Catholic). Katie Schuh (Mount Holly, NJ/Rancocas Valley) ripped a base hit to center field to drive in Ciacciarelli and give the Cougars a 1-0 lead.

Schuh came all the way around to score when a bunt was thrown into right field giving starting pitcher Smith a two-run cushion.

Smith (12-8) was up-tempo and went at hitters all afternoon, mixing her pitchers when she needed to offset her high-riding fastball. She received some great defense including a spectacular catch in foul territory by third baseman Courtney Melchionna (Linden, NJ/Linden) to end the fourth inning.

The Cougars tacked on a run in the when Schuh notched an RBI single, her fourth hit of the day.

Kean will now await to hear word from the selection committee on Monday regarding where they will play in the NCAAs.

Stockton finishes the season with a season mark of 25-15.