The No.2 seeded Rowan Profs defeated the No.7 seeded Texas Lutheran Bulldogs 5-0 in round 1 of the NCAA Division III Softball Championships at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Ill.

Rowan started the game out with a statement. Texas Lutheran, the Softball Division III team leader in stolen bases, got a leadoff runner after a walk to start the game. Bulldogs second baseman Caelee Clark was caught stealing for just the fifth time this season. Her 63 stolen bases this season lead the team and the nation for a single player across Division III Softball.

“Throwing Clark out in the first inning, I thought that was big and set the tone for us,” head coach Kim Wilson said.

Texas Lutheran averaged 4.96 stolen bases per game coming into the World Series. They stole just one against Rowan.

Rowan has seen speedy teams before, including in the 2024 Glassboro Super Regionals last year against Christopher Newport (CNU).

“We had to deal with [Candace] Slaw from CNU, she was also very quick and like that on the bases,” starting pitcher Rylee Lutz said. “We had practice with it and we implemented Kate [Evick] in there and she did an amazing job.”

Behind the great offensive performance from Rowan was another spectacular performance from right-handed pitcher Rylee Lutz. She went the distance going 7.0 IP scoreless and allowing just five hits.

“It feels good. The defense behind me killed it today,” Lutz said, “I wouldn’t be where I’m at right now without them. Having them behind my back and then our offense picking it up, that’s what kept me in the game.”

For Lutz, it was her eighth-ever game appearance in the NCAA Division III Softball Championship. This was the longest she’d gone out of those eight. The newly named National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American First Team right-hander picked up her 22nd win of the season and her 16th complete game of the season. 

Texas Lutheran had the opportunity to strike early in the game with base runners on second and third and two outs in back-to-back innings. After senior shortstop Payton MacNair made a nice backhand play to end the second inning and graduate student third baseman Breanna Bryant made a diving catch to end the third inning, Rowan responded.

Liz McCaffery got the scoring started in the bottom of the third with a two-run blast to straightaway left field.

“I think just knowing that she is a very good pitcher, she is going to throw strikes in the beginning,” McCaffery said. “She started throwing her changeup a little bit more. I went into that at-bat looking to hunt the changeup and it ended up paying out in my favor.”

It was the first Rowan home run in 34 days, spanning back to April 25 against Montclair State, where McCaffery was also the one to go deep. McCaffery finished a three-hit and 2 RBI day, ending just a triple shy of the cycle. 

In the fourth, following a hit-by-pitch to load the bases for the nine-hole hitter in Zara MacNair, Wilson decided to plug in Cami Morgan as a pinch hitter in a big spot with two outs. She answered the call and pulled a 2 RBI single down the 3rd baseline on an offspeed pitch.

“All season we talked about taking advantage of opportunities,” Wilson said. “Cami has done it game after game after game for us. Making adjustments is a big thing that you have to do in this game. She hit it just enough and that was huge. You go from a two-run game to a four-run game. She got ice in her veins and does a great job for us.”

Rowan is now one win closer to their quest for the first national championship in program history. They remain a perfect 6-0 in NCAA Tournament play following their 5-0 victory.

“I think it feels good. We get to sleep,” Wilson said jokingly. “They get to eat tonight, which is great.” 

A program record 49th win and counting puts the Rowan Profs in the winner’s bracket, where they will now face off at 5 p.m. EST and 4 p.m. C. on Friday, May 30, against Trine, the 2023 national champions.

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