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MONTCLAIR, N.J..  – The momentum didn't ebb far in favor of either team, but when the nine-inning affair finally concluded No. 23 and second-seeded Rowan emerged with a 1-0 win, ushering sixth-seeded William Paterson from the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament May 4.
 
Rookie righty Sarah Byrnes (Cherry Hill, N.J./Camden Catholic) (16-7) threw her longest outing of the season, a gritty 9.0 inning outing that saw 151 pitches. William Paterson came up short of getting the freshman the win, leaving nine runners on, six in scoring position, as WP (23-15) was shut out for the first time this season.
 
A two-out RBI double to deep left field from senior right fielder Morgan Smith plated sophomore pitcher Jesse DeDomenico for the eventual game-winning run in the top of the ninth. DeDomenico reached on a fielder's choice one batter earlier before Morgan's double landed just out of the reach of senior left fielder Kara Molnar (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial)'s outstretched glove.
 
WP created a good scoring opportunity in the bottom of the ninth courtesy of a booted ground ball by junior shortstop Carly Anderson, putting freshman shortstop Sydney Pace (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) on first with one out. Sophomore Ryan Tighe (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) bunted Pace to second, but DeDomenico coaxed Byrnes into a game-ending groundout.
 
All of the Pioneers' nine runners left on base were incurred after the fifth inning as sophomore starter Lauren Shannon held a perfect game until Molnar finally broke things up with a leadoff double to straight away left field.
 
William Paterson knocked on the door in the bottom of the seventh when it loaded the bases with one out, getting within a ball of a walk-off win. DeDomenico managed to work a strikeout and a groundout to wiggle out of the jam.
 
Rowan gifted WP with two fielding errors in the eighth, but softball left two on in scoring position once more. Junior third baseman Christine Griffith (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands Regional) led off the frame, diving safely into first base to beat sophomore first baseman Mackenzie Short to the base after she bobbled a ground ball. Senior center fielder Eleni Lutas (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock) was called out for stepping on the plate during a bunt attempt, but Griffith accounted for it by swiping second base. Sophomore designated player Andee Lupica (Maywood, N.J./Immaculate Conception) advanced Griffith to third base on a groundout after being granted new life following a dropped foul ball. Molnar was intentionally walked although freshman first baseman Caitlyn Massaro (Madison, N.J./Madison) was retired on a groundout.
 
Stellar outfield play by Molnar, Lutas and Tighe kept Rowan from capitalizing on opportunities all game. Molnar tracked down a fly ball deep in the left field to strand two Profs on base in the top of the third. Lutas made running plays in both the right and left field gaps and Tighe laid out to reel in an inning ending foul out in the top of the ninth.
 
Molnar was 1-for-3 with a walk as WP was held to a season-low one hit. Hickman also reached twice, getting hit by a pitch and working a free pass.
 
Smith and Anderson were the lone players with multi-hit games, going 2-for-5. Four other Profs worked one single apiece.
 
Byrnes (16-7) allowed just one earned run in 9.0 innings, navigating around eight hits and four walks while fanning two. The Camden Catholic, N.J., native worked 17 fly outs.
 
Shannon started, going 5.0 scoreless innings, fanning two walking two and allowing just one hit. DeDomenico (16-6) entered in the sixth and allowed only four base runners in 4.0 innings.
 
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