GLASSBORO, NJ – The top seed Rowan softball team plays #4 Kean University in the semifinals of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament on Tuesday, May 11 at 2 p.m.  The best of three series continues on Wednesday, May 12 if necessary at 4 p.m.
 
Rowan (27-5) advanced in the tournament with 3-0 and 6-3 wins over #8 Ramapo.  In the quarterfinals, Kean (23-7) defeated #5 William Paterson, 5-1 and 4-3.  #2 The College of New Jersey hosts #6 Stockton in the other semifinal games. 
 
NJAC Tournament Bracket                Live Stats             Live Video
 
The  NJAC Championship is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, May 14 and 15.  The conference champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.
 
The Profs finished 18-1 in the conference and had a bye in the first round.  The softball team is ranked 21^st in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 Poll and second in the NCAA Atlantic Region.   In the regular season, Rowan won 6-1 and 4-3 against Kean.    
 
This year, the conference tournament has a new format.  All 10 teams advanced to the postseason.  With the seventh through 10^th teams playing a single elimination game in the first round on Tuesday, May 4.  The quarterfinals (May 7-8), semifinals (May 11-12) and championship (May 14-15) are  the best of three games. 
 
This is Rowan's 31^st appearance in the conference tournament and 17^th straight.  The softball team has won the NJAC Championships 10 times (2018, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2002, 2001, 1998, 1994, 1990, 1983).
 
Right hander Emily August is the team's top pitcher with a 14-2 record, three saves and a 0.67 earned run average (ERA).  She has totaled 98 strikeouts in 104.1 innings and has a .148 opposing batting average.  August was named the NJAC Pitcher of the Year and to the All-Conference first team.  In the conference, she is ranked first in ERA and wins, second in opposing batting average and innings and third in strikeouts.  August is also 10^th in Division III in ERA.  Rookie Cat Thomas has an 8-2 record on the mound with a 1.68 ERA.
 
Second baseman Sonia Sharma is first with a .410 batting average.  She has contributed with 20 runs, 10 RBI and seven doubles.  Sharma's 34 hits is third in the conference.  Shortstop Payton MacNair is hitting .407.  She has collected 21 RBI and scored 30 runs.  MacNair was chosen the conference's Player of the Year and to the All-Conference first team.  She is the NJAC leader in runs scored, hits (44) and triples (4). 
 
Left fielder Morgan Zane is batting .404 and is first with 33 RBIs.  She has registered 12 doubles and scored 28 runs.  In the NJAC, Zane is first RBI and doubles and second in hits (40) and runs.  Catcher Korie Hague has a .355 batting average and third baseman Breanna Bryant follows at .333. Hague has compiled 26 RBI and 15 runs.  She is second in the conference in RBI.  Bryant has scored 21 runs and added 13 RBI.  Zane and Hague were NJAC All-Conference first team selections and Bryant received All-Conference honorable mention. 
 
Center fielder Rebecca Lombardo has a .308 batting average and designated player Kelly Duffy is hitting .278.  Lombardo has scored 16 runs while Duffy has registered 11 runs and 10 RBI.  Right fielder Mariah Wysocki is batting .254. She has scored 15 runs and has 15 RBI.