The Rowan Profs kept their season alive on Friday after losing Game 2 of the NCAA Regional with a win in their third game, 5-1, over the University of St. Thomas-Houston in Marshall, Texas, to advance to the regional final.
After falling to No. 6 ranked East Texas Baptist (ETBU), 7-0, early that morning, Rowan regrouped to win their second game of the regional round. Emily McCutcheon entered the circle after throwing a complete game on Thursday and did the same on Friday against the Celts.
“We all went into the locker room and we were like, we’re going to fight and we’re going to fight together,” McCutcheon said. “That’s how we’re going to make it through.”
The day did not start the way the Profs wanted. ETBU jumped on the Profs in the winner’s bracket matchup. The Tigers’ Ava Rodriguez clubbed two home runs including a three-run shot in the first inning.
The Profs aimed to avoid elimination with a rematch against St. Thomas later the same day.
“I think we’re hitting our stride,” Rowan head coach Kim Wilson said. “I thought we did a good job going out in this game, getting baserunners on. We left 10 people on base, which isn’t my favorite thing, but at least we had 10 people on base.”
The Profs started down when the Celts struck first after a Ciaira Gonzalez RBI-single. After that moment, the Profs didn’t let up. Especially McCutcheon who continued to pitch lights out just allowing the one run and striking out two.
“I knew it was going to be a hard game,” McCutcheon said. “Everyone’s season is on the line when you’re in the loser’s bracket.”
The Profs broke through in the second. Carly Polsky stole a run for Rowan after stealing third and then advancing to home on a throwing error. It was Kate Evick, who went 2-for-3 against ETBU, delivering the knockout blow with a two-run home run in the eighth to give the Profs their second win of the regional round.
Ava Fisher ripped an RBI that nearly left the yard and Mikayla Dansky scored on a sacrifice fly to add some insurance for the Profs.
“I did think I cleared the wall,” Fisher said with a laugh following the game.
Wilson gave her team a lot of credit for improving their at bats.
“I think that really had something to do with our timing yesterday,” Wilson said. “When your hitters aren’t seeing live pitching from other people it affects you a little bit.”
Now Rowan has to go on and beat ETBU to advance to the Super Regional round and keep their season alive.
“I think we just have to approach it one pitch at a time,” Wilson said. “We can’t make any pitch bigger than the next one.”
For comments/questions about this story, DM us on Instagram @thewhitatrowan or email [email protected]
