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GLASSBORO, N.J. -- Third-seeded Rowan (33-7) scored in the bottom of the seventh to break a 1-1 deadlock and defeat fourth-seeded William Paterson (30-11), 2-1, in the opening round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Softball Tournament May 1.  WP will face elimination Friday, May 4, when it plays at top-seeded and 12th-ranked Montclair State at 1:00 p.m. 

The Pioneers got on the scoreboard first when they crossed the plate during the top of the fourth inning.  Freshman first baseman Jessica Phillips (Woolwich, N.J./Kingsway Regional) drew a one-out walk and was replaced by pinch runner Laura Henriquez (Westampton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional).  Following a flyout, Henriquez stole second and then scored thanks to a single off the bat of senior third baseman Jessica Maciolek (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert).

The Profs evened the game in the bottom of the fifth when Jennifer Arcella tripled in Nicolina Veneziano.  After William Paterson went down in order during the sixth and seventh innings and sophomore pitcher Rachel Cannata (Waldwick, N.J./Paramus Catholic) worked out of a first-and-third with one out jam, registering a strikeout and groundout to end the sixth inning, Rowan started the home half of the seventh with a Lauren Davis walk.  She moved up to second via a wild pitch, and after a popup of a sacrifice bunt attempt, Arcella doubled to right-center to drive in Davis and end the game.

Maciolek was 2-for-3 with a RBI for William Paterson.  Cannata took the loss (6-4), striking out three and walking three in 6.1 innings while allowing six hits.

Arcella finished 3-for-4 and drove in both runs for Rowan.  Jamie Minix tossed the first 4.0 innings, surrendering a run on three hits, and LeAnne Miller improved to 17-1 after pitching 3.0 scoreless innings.