The Rowan softball team continued its undefeated streak (22-0) to open the season by defeating Eastern (15-5) in back-to-back games.

Game one began as a pitching duel between Rylee Lutz and Danika Barthol, with both pitchers keeping the game scoreless through the first two innings. Rowan made solid contact against Barthol early on, but their hits kept finding the gloves of Eastern defenders.

However, the dam finally broke for the Profs in the bottom of the third. Liz McCaffery and McKenzie Melvin hit back-to-back singles, putting runners on first and third with no outs after a Payton MacNair flyout to right. Then, a wild pitch from Barthol allowed both base runners to advance 60 feet and put the Profs on the board.

Like MacNair, Abigail Pawlowski grounded out to second, but moved Melvin to third.

Bre Bryant then came to the plate and lined a ball up the middle, scoring Melvin. The RBI was Bryant’s 15th of the season and gave the Profs a 2-0 lead at the end of the third inning.

Throughout the next couple of innings, Lutz found herself in tough situations, but worked out of a jam multiple times. During the top of the fourth, Sydney Ostolaza hit a double off the center field wall with one out. Jania Long then singled down the left-field line, putting runners on the corners.

Lutz struck out the next batter, Sofia Rollins, on three pitches for the next out. Then, pinch hitter Maeve Colligan battled with Lutz for 13 pitches before ultimately flying out to center field.

“I was mostly trying to spin the ball as much as possible and not let her win,” Lutz said. “That was my biggest thing. I just trusted my pitches.”

Both offenses remained quiet until the top of the sixth when Eastern loaded the bases with no outs after a hit-by-pitch, a single, and a walk.

Then, the unexpected happened—a line drive was hit straight to shortstop MacNair, who caught it and threw to McCaffery at second before McCaffery fired it to Holly Marcus at first to complete a triple play.

“It was the best thing ever,” Lutz said. “It was so great sitting back and watching it. I was very proud of my teammates. It’s something that we’ve been trying to happen, so I was just happy I got to experience it.”

For head coach Kim Wilson, who has surpassed 1,000 career wins, rare moments are hard to come by—but this triple play was one of them.

“I was surprised. It was a good thing,” Wilson said. “I don’t think I’ve ever had one in a game that I coached. I honestly can’t remember one, and it was a unique one. It was pretty cool.”

In the bottom half of the inning, Kate Evick hit a double to right field. Zara MacNair later singled on a drag bunt to drive in the run from second.

Lutz did not return for the seventh inning, finishing her outing with six scoreless innings, five hits allowed, three walks, and two strikeouts. Emily McCutheon came in for Rowan and shut the door on Eastern, securing a 3-0 victory in game one.

The Profs’ offense picked up where it left off in game two, with a run crossing the plate in the bottom of the second. Pawlowski led off with a walk and advanced to second on a Bryant groundout. With two outs, Evick hit a ground ball to short that was bobbled, allowing her to reach base safely. Not only did Evick reach, but Pawlowski scored from second on a close play at the plate, giving the Profs a 1-0 lead.

“It was very impressive,” Evick said. “I think she might have gotten the stop sign from Coach, but for me to be able to hit a hard ground ball with two outs and for her to score was just very impressive.”

The team added another run in the fifth. McCaffery reached base on a fielder’s choice and stole second. Melvin then hit a single into right field, allowing McCaffery to score from second.

After earning the save in game one, McCutheon followed up with a complete-game shutout in game two, leading Rowan to a 2-0 victory. Over both games, she pitched eight innings, gave up five hits, and walked none while striking out three.

“She was spot on with everything,” Evick said. “She painted the corners really well. Overall, I think she did a very good job.”

With this win, Rowan now sits at 22-0 on the season, just three wins away from the best start in Profs history. They will try to reach that milestone when New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play begins Saturday, March 29, against the Kean Cougars.

“It’s amazing,” Lutz said. “It’s also a little scary because you never know. If we lose one game, we lose one game. We’re not putting too much pressure on ourselves, which is really good. We’re just staying loose and having fun.”

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