The Rowan softball team swept SUNY-New Paltz in their doubleheader, winning both games by a final score of 8-0.

In Game 1, the Profs started quickly, with pitcher Rylee Lutz retiring the side in order in the first inning. Liz McCaffery led off the bottom of the first with a single and promptly stole second. She advanced to third and scored on a Breanna Bryant groundout, giving Rowan an early lead.

Lutz and SUNY-New Paltz pitcher Leah Gunsett kept both offenses relatively quiet through the next inning and a half however. But a major factor in both games was the wind, which blew at 20 mph, with gusts reaching 39 mph.

“I mean, it is definitely an adjustment,” McCaffery said. “If there is a ball in the air, the wind can just take it. There were balls that were hit into left field that looked like they were carrying but just died.”

Left fielder Abigail Pawlowski had to battle the wind the most, but she was prepared for the challenge.

“It was easy to judge from warmups today,” Pawlowski said. “I could tell which way it was gonna go. It changed throughout the game, but I was able to adjust to it.”

In the bottom of the third, McKenzie Melvin followed up her home run from the previous doubleheader with a triple. Payton MacNair then hit a pop fly to left field, allowing Melvin to score.

Gunsett was replaced by Morgan Smith in the bottom of the fifth, and Rowan capitalized. With two runners on base, MacNair hit a ground ball that the SUNY second baseman overthrew, allowing both runners to score and MacNair to reach third.

Pawlowski walked, bringing up Bryant, who hit a double that scored MacNair and moved Pawlowski to third. Pawlowski then scored on a groundout, extending the lead to 6-0.

Freshman designated player Sofia McBride followed with a single to left, bringing home Bryant for her first career RBI.

“I think she is doing a good job of not making the moment too big,” head coach Kim Wilson said. “She is doing well with her at-bats. Got a little frustrated but came back. She is young, she has to get the experience.”

Cami Morgan pinch-hit for Zara MacNair and delivered an RBI single to walk off Game 1 in the fifth inning.

Game 2 followed a similar script. Emily McCutcheon dominated just as Lutz had in Game 1. The two combined for 10 innings, no runs, and seven strikeouts. Their ability to remain composed, even without their best stuff, makes them two of the top pitchers in Division III.

“Their experience is so valuable,” Wilson said. “Emily started the game with a pitch that was hit hard up the middle, and we didn’t take care of it, but she came back and got out of it. I think the experience of going to the postseason helps them.”

After finishing the first game with a six-run inning, the Profs carried that momentum into the second game, scoring in the first inning. Just like in Game 1, McCaffery led off with a single.

“I want to start the game strong,” McCaffery said. “I want to build the momentum by moving on the bases, whether that’s stealing or having [McKenzie Melvin] move me over. It is definitely an adjustment. If I had it my way, I wouldn’t be hitting leadoff, but that’s okay.”

Melvin and MacNair reached base for Pawlowski, who hit a single to score both McCaffery and Melvin.

Through four games, Pawlowski is off to a blistering start, hitting .571/.583/.714.

“I have tended to struggle at the beginning of my first three seasons, so I’ve changed my mindset this year,” Pawlowski said. “I made adjustments over the break, and it’s making me feel very comfortable. It has also helped that the coach has confidence in me and put me in the four spot.”

With Cat Thomas having graduated last year, the team needed someone to step into that role. So far, Pawlowski has been the answer.

“It’s gonna be anybody’s job to figure out,” Wilson said. “I thought she did a good job the other day, and she looked pretty good today. Who knows whether or not that continues? We are only four games in, but so far, she has done a good job.”

Rowan went on to score four more runs in the game, with the final run coming in the fifth inning when Holly Markus hit a walk-off single—just as Morgan had done in the first game.

The team is now 4-0 to begin the year and Melvin and Lutz have also both collected their New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) awards. Melvin won the NJAC Hitter of the Week while Lutz won the NJAC Pitcher of the Week. 

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