The Rowan Profs started their NCAA regional round off on the right foot with a, 2-1, extra-inning win over the University of St. Thomas-Houston Celts on Thursday in Marshall, Texas. East Texas Baptist University is hosting the regional round.
Every pitch mattered in this game as well as every defensive play, but the Profs walked it off in typical Rowan fashion. Mikayla Dansky stole third and then scored on a throwing error.
“Sometimes it goes your way,” Rowan head coach Kim Wilson said. “Kayla did a good job of executing the play and then on the overthrow we were able to advance, and that’s her speed.”
The Profs grabbed a lead in the bottom of the first inning when breakout freshman Zoey Rogers slapped an RBI single. Then, Kate Evick brought home Rogers on an RBI base-hit after Zogers stole a bag.
The Profs had five hits on the day, but Rogers accounted for three of them
From there, senior southpaw and First Team New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) pitcher Emily McCutcheon settled in and tossed a complete game. McCutcheon continued to deliver in big moments, striking out five and forcing 15 ground balls to keep the Celts at bay.
“I just knew at the end of the day we were going to score and win,” McCutcheon said. “Our defense was phenomenal today.”
The Profs defense and McCutcheon dominated the day, but St. Thomas broke through in the seventh inning to tie the game, 1-1 when Samantha Crumrin singled to left field and Savana Henken scored.
Rowan was able to hold on and blank St. Thomas in the top of the eighth to go on to win in walk-off fashion.
“I think defense has always been where I thrive,” Rogers said. “In a game like this every little play matters and everything counts.”
Wilson echoed the same point as her team.
“I thought we did a really good job of controlling the game,” Wilson said. “Defensively we played our rear end off.”
With the victory Rowan advances into the winner’s bracket of the regional tournament and will now face host East Texas Baptist University on Friday morning.
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