Rowan softball continued its historic start to the 2025 season, sweeping the New Jersey City University (NJCU) Gothic Knights in a two-game doubleheader on Saturday, April 5, to advance to 28-0.

It was another dominant performance by the Profs, ending both games early via the run rule.

After slow starts in their last two games, the Profs came out fast in Game 1. McKenzie Melvin got things started with a double into right field. Then, after Payton MacNair flew out to right, Abigail Pawlowski hit a double into left-center that scored Melvin. Later in the inning, Aly Reim hit a single to score Pawlowski.

Last season, the Profs rolled out senior, Cat Thomas, in the cleanup spot, one of the team’s top hitters. There were questions about who would fill that role this season, but Pawlowski has stepped in seamlessly. So far this season, her numbers are even stronger than Thomas’ — slashing .361/.538/.574 compared to Thomas’ .333/.440/.487.

Scoring first is always a point of emphasis for the Profs, especially with the starting pitching they have.

“No matter if you are home or away, you want to get on the board, that is always huge for us,” head coach Kim Wilson said.

In the second inning, Liz McCaffery came up with two outs and hit a triple. Melvin followed with a single to bring her home.

McCaffery had a standout day, collecting five hits across both games—a triple, two doubles, two singles, four RBIs, and a stolen base. Performances like that have become expected of her. Despite hitting .404, McCaffery has been unlucky with balls in play—she arguably deserves an even higher batting average.

“She has been hitting really well,” Wilson said. “She’s just been hitting it at people. They’ve made some really nice plays on her. If you told me she wasn’t hitting .400, I wouldn’t believe you.”

McCaffery is well aware of her tough luck at the plate.

“I feel like I’ve been struggling a bit,” she said. “I tried to, you know, take today and try to flip it. We’ve got a bunch of important games coming up, a lot of really talented teams and pitchers. So I just wanted to get up there and start to feel a little bit more like myself.”

The Profs had a big fourth inning, scoring six runs. This time it was the bottom of the lineup—batters five through nine—who got it done. Bre Bryant, Reim, Holly Markus, and Zara MacNair all contributed with either RBIs or by reaching base to keep the line moving. McCaffery added a double. Rowan finished the inning with ten runs.

Rylee Lutz got the Game 1 start, as usual. After struggling in her last home outing, she looked to be back in her usual dominant form. Lutz threw a perfect game through the first three innings and worked out of trouble in the fourth after allowing her first hit.

Lutz has now lowered her ERA to 0.79, which ranks No. 11 among Division III pitchers.

Her day ended after the fourth inning, giving rookie Madison Cooley some reps. With the Profs up by ten, all Cooley had to do was get three outs—and she did exactly that.

Cooley also pitched earlier in the week at William Paterson. Across both appearances, she totaled two innings pitched, giving up two hits, no walks or runs, and recording two strikeouts. That effort earned her New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Rookie Pitcher of the Week honors.

Rowan continued its dominance in the second game of the doubleheader.

The Profs once again struck first. Melvin, as she did in Game 1, notched the team’s first hit and run, scoring from first on a Payton MacNair double.

Melvin, like McCaffery, had a standout day at the plate. She collected six hits across both games, going 6-for-8 and boosting her batting average over the .500 mark.

“I really focused in on the ball today,” Melvin said. “I went to the batting cage yesterday as well. I’m really trying to lock in and keep hitting.”

A Bryant single later in the inning scored MacNair to make it 2-0.

In the second, Zara MacNair followed her sister’s double from the previous inning with one of her own. McCaffery then singled to left to score her. Melvin added another single to advance McCaffery, and after an error on a Melvin steal attempt, McCaffery was able to come home.

Rowan added another run in the fourth and three more in the fifth, capped off by a Melvin walk-off single to enforce the run rule once again and secure the sweep.

Emily McCutcheon got the start on the mound in Game 2 and continued her dominant season. She allowed just one hit—the only baserunner NJCU had all game—and held them scoreless. McCutcheon’s ERA now sits at an astounding 0.36, the lowest in all of Division III softball.

As a team, Rowan boasts the best ERA in the nation among Division III programs.

Over their last four games, the Profs have outscored opponents 42-1. If they keep up this offensive and pitching pace, it could be a while before they suffer their first loss of the season.

“We are just a great hitting team overall,” Melvin said. “We’re really good at passing the bat and putting the ball in play.”

Still, the undefeated streak isn’t something the team is focused on.

“It just feels like an added benefit,” McCaffery said. “It is great and nice, but it does not feel different from any other year. We play our game and let things go the way they’re gonna go, and we try not to put that much pressure on ourselves.”

The Profs’ next challenge will come against the Stockton Ospreys at home on Tuesday, April 9.

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