By Joseph Caruso
Staff Writer
The College’s softball team has won nine of its past 10 games, including an unbelievable upset against previously undefeated No. 2 Rowan.
Coming into the matchup at 30-0, the Profs were the only remaining team in the country with zero losses. They had won 38 straight, dating back to last season, a streak that spanned 364 days. They hosted the College for a pair of games on Tuesday, April 15.
Rowan flexed their muscles in the first game of the doubleheader, scoring six unanswered runs in the bottom of the first inning against sophomore pitcher Maya Knasiak. Knasiak walked four in the first inning, but settled in after throwing three straight scoreless innings to salvage her day. Senior Julia Roessler came on in relief and tossed 2.1 shutout innings of her own to end the game.
Despite their pitching holding Rowan scoreless for six straight innings, the Lions had just five hits and left eight runners on base en route to being shut out for the fourth time this season. For the Profs, it was senior pitcher Rylee Lutz who shut down the College, continuing her dominance on her way to her 13th consecutive win as a starting pitcher.
Coming into the day against the College, Rowan’s pitching duo of Lutz and junior Emily McCutcheon was a combined 27-0, with both boasting an ERA below one. It was McCutcheon who started the latter game of the doubleheader and would look to sweep the Lions to continue Rowan's perfection.
Junior Elizabeth Gosse got the start on the mound and held down Rowan for two innings before they scored in the bottom of the third inning. However, in the top of the fourth, the College finally struck. Fifth-year Julia Kinnally had a monster day with the bat, plating four runs by herself, including a fourth-inning two-run homer that gave the College a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
As a result of her heroics, Kinnally was named New Jersey Athletic Conference Player of the Week, slugging over 1.000 during the seven days. It's her third time receiving NJAC Player of the Week and the first time this season.
Rowan answered with another run in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 3-2, but that would be it for the Profs as Gosse would go the remaining three innings without conceding another run. The Lions added insurance in the top of the seventh, with a two-run double from Kinnally.
Rowan would get the tying run to the plate in the final half inning, but with runners on second and third with two outs, Gosse induced the final out on a groundout to first, as the College snapped Rowan's undefeated season 5-2.
The College returned home on Friday, April 18, to play New Jersey City University, looking to carry their momentum through the rest of their schedule.
In the first game, Knasiak bounced back with one of her most impressive outings, allowing zero runs on just two hits while striking out nine. Roessler pitched two more scoreless innings of her own to secure the save. Sophomore catcher Sara Vincent led the way with two RBI, as the College won the first game 5-0.
Gosse got back on the mound in the second game, getting her seventh win of the season in a quality start that saw her throw six innings of three-run ball. The Lions' offense did most of the heavy lifting in this one, with 11 runs. Fifth-year Kaci Neveling had four hits and scored three runs, while senior McKayla Yard and Kinnally combined for five RBIs in an 11-5 victory.
The College now holds second place in the NJAC, with a 13-3 conference record and 21-13 overall. They will look to continue their winning ways in their final series of the season at home against William Paterson on Saturday, April 26, for Senior Day.
