Rowan University’s dominant pitching and explosive hitting led to the Profs sweeping Stockton University in their home doubleheader on Saturday.

Rowan softball entered these games 4-4, but added two more wins on Saturday.

They won the first game 8-0 in five innings with senior Emily August and junior Alexa Saccomanno pitching a combined perfect game. In the second game, the Profs won 3-1 with a home run from Saccomanno and two hits from senior second baseman Sonia Sharma. 

August started the first game for the Profs, pitching four innings and striking out eight batters.

Rowan’s offense also started right away as the Profs had the bases loaded in the first inning. Junior catcher Korie Hague was up to bat and had a single that scored two runners. In the next at-bat, junior right fielder Mariah Wysocki hit a homerun, totaling three RBIs for her. The Profs led 5-0 after the first inning and continued to dominate the rest of the game. 

Hague described her at-bats and her successful day at the plate. She made some adjustments to her swing during practices this past week, and those adjustments paid off for her today. 

“Earlier at practice on Thursday and Friday I did a little tweak to my swing,” Hague said. “I was working on keeping my hands back farther when I was loading.” 

As the game progressed, the Profs offensive surge continued with two hits from junior left fielder Morgan Zane, two more hits from Hague and one hit by Sharma. 

Hague totaled four RBIs in the first game, as she did whatever she could to add to the Profs lead. 

“[I] just go up there [to the plate], and see the ball, hit the ball and do whatever I can to put the ball in play to make opportunities happen for my team,” Hague said.

Saccomanno came on in relief of August in the top of the fifth, not giving up a hit and shutting Stockton down in order to complete the perfect game, sealing the victory for the Profs.

As far as the second game, the Ospreys scored first, in the top of the first inning. But after that, Rowan’s dominant pitching shut them down. After freshman pitcher Cat Thomas exited the circle in the top of the second inning, Saccomanno came in for relief yet again and did not allow Stockton to score for the rest of the game. 

Saccomanno talked about how it feels to be put in these important relief positions.

“I live for the pressure,” Saccomanno said. “It gives me something to work for. Pressure — I don’t really feel it.” 

Not only did Saccomanno dominate in the circle, she excelled offensively as well, hitting a homer in the second inning with Kelly Duffy on base because of a single. 

She describes her at-bat and what she was thinking before she hit the home run. 

“Once I got to 3-2, I was like ‘alright, she’s not going to walk me, so it’s going to be there,’ and I just saw it and just swung at it,” Saccomanno said. “I try not to think too much, or too deep into it; I just try to have fun up there and wait for a good pitch.” 

The Profs would score one more time in the game, as freshman third baseman Breanna Bryant and Zane each singled, and Bryant would eventually score on a sacrifice fly from Hague. Sharma produced for the Profs as well, totaling two hits in this game. 

Rowan’s pitching was yet again dominant, only giving up one run and three hits in the second game. The Profs would go on to victory and Saccomanno would get the win on the mound. She emphasized the importance of having trust in her teammates while on the mound, which leads to days like this one.

“I have all the faith, I trust my teammates behind me 100%,” Saccomanno said. “So, that also makes it a lot easier.” 

Hague, who was the catcher in both games, describes how she thinks her pitchers did in their performances on the mound.

“I think they did phenomenal; they were hitting their spots, they were locating all the pitches that were being called, they had confidence,” Hague said. “Even if they missed a spot, the next pitch they followed up and hit the spot. I’m very proud of them.” 

The Profs next game will be a doubleheader on Saturday against Kean University in a conference matchup. 

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