The now No. 10 ranked Rowan Profs dominated their trip to Florida over spring break, playing 12 games in a seven-day stretch from March 13-20, winning 10 of them.
It wasn’t a dream start for head coach Kim Wilson and company. The Profs dropped two of their first three games, opening the trip with a, 3–2, loss to Wittenberg. Rowan rebounded with a 6-5 win over #13 Case Western Reserve, but then fell to Bowdoin, 4-3, in nine innings.
After that, the Profs won their next nine games. They now return to New Jersey on a nine-game winning streak, carrying plenty of momentum into conference play.
During the Spring Games, Rowan outscored its opponents, 85-27. The Profs scored 10 runs three times and surpassed 15 runs twice, highlighted by a 17-0, five-inning win over SUNY Fredonia and a 16-4 victory over Manchester, both on March 15.
The offense was dominant, and the pitching matched it. Four of Rowan’s 10 wins were shutouts, and another game saw the staff allow just one run.
Profs ace Emily McCutcheon picked up right where she left off last season, allowing just four runs across five starts. The senior threw four complete games, including two shutouts, and posted a 1.00 ERA over the break.
Game-two starter BethAnne Doderer has also stepped up, filling the role previously held by All-American Rylee Lutz. The sophomore posted a 1.77 ERA in Florida, allowing just five runs in 25.1 innings pitched. On the season, Doderer leads the team with a 1.08 ERA, a 7-1 record, and 34 strikeouts.
Offensively, the newcomers provided a major spark. East Carolina transfer Ava Fisher, who was initially expected to pitch, has emerged as one of Rowan’s top run producers. She is tied for the team lead with 16 RBIs, including 12 during the Florida trip, and leads the team with three home runs, all of which came during the trip.
Freshman Zoey Rodgers, from Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, has also slotted seamlessly into the lineup. Rodgers is second on the team with a .400 average and hit .432 over the 12-game stretch. She added 11 RBIs and totaled 16 hits during the trip.
Some familiar faces also contributed offensively during the Spring Games. Aly Reim and Zara MacNair both had strong performances. MacNair hit .432 with 16 hits and nine RBIs, while Reim batted .400 with 10 hits and seven RBIs.
Rowan looks sharp and appears to be hitting its stride at the right time. The Profs have climbed to their highest national ranking since the preseason poll, and many of the questions about replacing key contributors have been answered, at least for now.
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