S. Jersey Girls: Salem squeezes past Pitman in softball playoff

Salem

worked some two-out magic to scratch out a run in the top of the seventh inning, then wriggled out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam in the bottom of the frame to defeat host

Pitman

, 1-0, yesterday in a NJSIAA South Jersey Group 1 softball opening-round thriller.

After the first two Rams were retired in the seventh, Chrissy Hassler reached base on an error, moved to third on a hit-and-run single by Kathleen Moore, and raced home on a throwing error.

Callie Emel then completed the seven-hit shutout by emerging unscathed in the bottom of the seventh, sending 10th-seeded Salem into today's quarterfinal at No. 2 seed

Gloucester

. Amanda Rencher, who struck out seven while yielding five singles and no walks, was saddled with the loss for seventh-seeded Pitman.

South Jersey Group 4.

Maritza Jimenez drove in a run in the first inning and scored in the fifth, and Leanne Miller fanned nine and did not walk a batter as third-seeded

Vineland

escaped with a 2-0 win over 13th-seeded

Egg Harbor Township

.

Sam Mulderig hit a run-scoring single and Jackie Hetzler raced home on an error in a two-run fifth inning to lift eighth-seeded

Washington Township

over ninth-seeded

Millville

, 2-1.

Michelle Hermanns homered in the third and scored the go-ahead run on Rachel Knable's double in the fifth, making seventh-seeded

Cherry Hill West

a 3-2 winner over No. 10 seed

Oakcrest

.

Natalie Bada roped a two-run single in her first varsity at-bat and Kristina Wolfrom hit the first home run of her career in fifth-seeded

Eastern

's 13-3 romp past 12th-seeded

Cherry Hill East

.

South Jersey Group 2.

Cady Piarulli singled, doubled, and drove in a run to help ninth-seeded

Burlington Township

upend No. 8 seed

Audubon

, 4-1.

Central Jersey Group 4.

Amy Gentile's two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning was the difference in fifth-seeded

Rancocas Valley

's 3-2 first-round victory over 12th-seeded

Colts Neck

.

On the efforts of Kristina Lee (85) and Liz Rexon (87),

Haddonfield

fell just short of claiming the NJSIAA state team title as

Ridgewood

edged the Bulldogs, 170-172, at Bamm Hollow Country Club in Monmouth County.

Amber Smith of

Williamstown

shot a 78 to finish tied for second in the individual scoring, behind the 70 carded by Marina Alex of

Wayne Hills

.

Rachel Mehaffey capped her four-goal effort and completed a second-half comeback by scoring the eventual winner with 6 minutes, 3 seconds remaining in regulation, as fourth-seeded

West Deptford

outlasted No. 5 seed

Northern Burlington

, 10-9, in a NJSIAA South Jersey Group 2 quarterfinal.

Mehaffey and Kate Oldt (two goals) accounted for all five second-half goals by the host Eagles (13-4), who trailed, 6-5, at intermission. Morgan Pettit had four goals for the Greyhounds, who were ultimately held at bay by netminder Jessica Persicketti (14 saves).

In another South Jersey Group 2 quarterfinal, No. 2 seed

Camden Catholic

toasted 10th-seeded

Monmouth

, 20-7.

The Irish offense rolled behind Kathleen Notos (eight goals), Michelle Vittese (six goals), and Maggie Fallon (three goals, four assists)

.