Jess Rozick pitching vs Rowan
Rowan Sports Information
3
Winner Penn State Berks PSBW 25-8-1
2
Rowan ROW 33-11-1
Winner
Penn State Berks PSBW
25-8-1
3
Final
2
Rowan ROW
33-11-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Penn State Berks PSBW 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 3 7 0
Rowan ROW 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 8 1

W: Rozick, Jess (15-6) L: DeDomenico (19-7)

Game Recap: Softball |

Softball grinds out win over No. 23 Rowan

GLASSBORO, N.J. - The Penn State Berks softball team opened up the NCAA Regional Tournament with a thrilling 3-2 victory over No. 23 ranked and host Rowan University on Friday afternoon. [Watch post-game interview with Rozick and coach Ference]

The Nittany Lions improve to 25-8-1 on the season, while the Profs drop to 33-11-1 overall. Berks will face the fifth ranked Randolph-Macon College on Saturday morning.

Jess Rozick gutted out a phenomenal performance in the pitcher's circle and had a solid day at the plate. The junior right-hander scattered eight hits and surrendered two runs, while striking out eight batters. Rozick worked out of several bases loaded jams throughout the afternoon, relying on strikeouts to escape the trouble.

After Berks went down in order in the top of the first, Rowan came out looking to grab an early edge. The leadoff batter singled to left, moved up on a wild pitch, and stole third with one out. Rozick got a strikeout swinging and then another looking to leave the runner stranded.

The Nittany Lions struck first with a run in the top of the third. Rozick led off with a single and advanced to third on a one-out double to left field by Hunter Hart. Rowan starting pitcher Lauren Shannon got a groundout to third base for out two, but walked Brianna Smith to load up the bases. Cori Dickinson drew a bases loaded walk to force in Rozick from third with the first run of the game.

Berks missed an opportunity in the fourth when Becca Faust led off with a single, Rozick drew a walk, and Heather Rissell was hit with a pitch to load the bases with one out. Shannon was able to leave the runners stranded after recording a pair of strikeouts.

The Profs carried that momentum into their at bat in the bottom half of the fourth. The first batter walked, followed by a single and both runners moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt. Freshman Christina Guarino then delivered a two-run single to left to give Rowan a 2-1 lead.

The Nittany Lions responded in the top of the sixth, starting with a lead off single by Sophia Cinti and a single up the middle by Rozick. Rissell fouled off several pitches and eventually drew a walk to load up the bases with no outs on the board. Hart ripped a sharp grounder to the shortstop, who fielded cleanly but her throw to home was mishandled, allowing pinch runner Lauren Gabel to slide in safe and even the game at 2-all. With the bases still loaded and no outs, pinch hitter Carley Smith hit a ball up the middle that was fielded by the shortstop with the only play at first base. During the putout, Rozick was able to score from third to give Berks a 3-2 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, Rowan got a leadoff single before Rozick struck out the next batter. After a walk and a passed ball, Berks elected to intentionally walk the next batter to load the bases with one out. Rozick forced a pop up to Faust at second and then got an inning ending strikeout to leave three on the bases.

In the seventh, the Profs started out with a single before Rozick forced a fly out to left for out one. The tying run was put into scoring position after a single to left, but Rozick got a strikeout followed by a pop out to Dickinson at third to put the game away.

Rozick finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Dickinson was 1-for-2 with an RBI.

The victory was just the second ever by the softball program in the NCAA Tournament. Last year's squad earned a thrilling win over Susquehanna University on a walk-off homer by Ashley Malek.

The Nittany Lions and Randolph-Macon will face off at 11 a.m. tomorrow, with the winner going to the championship game and the losing team playing right after in an elimination game.
 
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