Rowan softball’s historic season has come to an end, as Randolph-Macon defeated the Profs 1-0 to advance to the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Softball Championships on Saturday, May 31, at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Ill. With the victory, the Yellow Jackets move on to face Virginia Wesleyan for the chance to advance to the NCAA Division III Softball Championship on Sunday, June 1.

The game contained six straight scoreless frames from both sides. Yellow Jackets ace Gracie Ellis and Profs standout Rylee Lutz both delivered masterful performances, each going the distance in a classic pitchers’ duel. Randolph-Macon Head Coach Krysti Maronski-Neufeldt knew before the game this was going to be the result. 

“It was an awesome game. Coming in, I knew it was going to be low scoring and that’s what we got,” Maronski-Neufeldt said.

It was also a game full of defensive plays. The margin for error was so small with the season on the line, and Rowan softball head coach Kim Wilson complimented Randolph-Macon and the nature of the game for the loss.

“Overall, they made some really nice defensive plays in the outfield that if they bounced a different way or made a mistake there, it could be a different ball game,” Wilson said.

Ellis was nearly untouchable, scattering hits while staying composed in high-pressure moments. Lutz matched her pitch-for-pitch, but it was Randolph-Macon who finally broke through in the seventh inning to help secure the win. The only thing that separated the two teams was a big-time hit from Randolph-Macon’s all-time hits leader and leadoff hitter, Amanda Lanyon, in the top of the seventh inning. She delivered a one-out single up the middle to score the lone run of the game.

“We needed someone to step up and it just happened to be me,” Lanyon said. “We just needed one person and I had the chance. I’m thankful for that.”

Rowan nearly answered in the bottom half of the inning. Payton MacNair led off with a double, Rowan’s only extra-base hit of the game, and the runner moved to third on a sacrifice. But with the tying run just 60 feet away, Breanna Bryant’s foul out to shallow left field was too short to send the runner. On her 100th pitch of the game, Ellis struck out Aly Reim to seal the win. 

Fifth-year senior Payton MacNair talked about the difficulties of facing Ellis. 

“She was moving the ball around the plate the whole time. You’re never getting the same pitch back to back, so she did a really good job of keeping us unbalanced,” MacNair said. “I feel like we had some good at-bats against her where we might’ve beat her, even if it was an out. I think we did a good job adjusting later in our at-bats.”

For Ellis, she ran into some trouble following that double. It was the only extra-base hit of the game for either side and she was able to control her emotions and mindset in high leverage.

“I was just kind of like whatever, it’s okay. I can’t strike everyone out. I can’t keep everyone to no hits. It’s the game,” Ellis said. “It was their third time through, it’s going to happen and just staying true to ourselves and staying relaxed.”

The motivation of Ellis stood out in this game, as the senior right-hander watched the Profs advance to the 2023 NCAA Division III Softball Championships on her home field in the Super Regionals.

“It just felt really good. We actually talked about that earlier about how it was a chance for us to get revenge,” Ellis said. “It was really exciting to finally beat them and then to be where we are right now.”

The emotions were high as former Rowan pitcher (2013-14) and assistant coach (2014-18) Krysti Maronski-Neufeldt is now at the helm of the Yellow Jackets. As she advances to the semifinals for the first time in her career, she contributes her love for the game to her time at Rowan.

“I played two years at Rowan. Before transferring there, I hated softball. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her,” Maronski-Neufeldt said. “It was really fun to be out there with her. The culture that coach [Kim Wilson] has there [Rowan] and the love for her kids and just everything about it. I love her so much and she’s just a huge role model for me.”

Despite the loss, Rowan capped a historic season with 49 wins, setting a new program record. The Profs claimed their 13th conference title, earned a third straight NCAA Championship berth, and set a program-best 31-game win streak. Along the way, Wilson notched her 1,000th career coaching victory, a testament to her legacy and the team’s continued excellence.

For Wilson, it was an emotional day as well as she said goodbye to her accomplished senior class. The winning culture of the program the seniors have built and the love of the grind isn’t something that is ideal for every player, according to Wilson. But, it’s this environment and mentality that shapes the people her players have grown to become and will continue to be long after their softball careers have ended.

“I’m proud of this group. I’m lucky enough to be the keeper of Rowan University softball. It’s a great institution,” Wilson said. “We get to be around outstanding people, but it’s not for everybody. There are a lot of people that want to be a part of it and they just can’t handle it. They are putting in all the extra time, we ask a lot of them. For me, they[players] were little kids when they came in here and now they are young women going out into the world. I’m just proud of them.”

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