Softball Breaks Out the Offense to Sweep Kean

Jenna DiDonato was hitless as a 21-year-old.

In the four games and 12 at bats the junior second baseman had had since celebrating her birthday on April 4, DiDonato had been in a self-proclaimed “mini slump.”

For her first two at bats during Monday’s game at Kean University, it looked as if DiDonato’s luck wasn’t going to change. Then, in the 6th inning, she walloped a pitch off of Kean’s right-hander Cassie Shotwell that sailed over the left field fence and hit the scoreboard, leading the Profs to a doubleheader sweep in which they outscored the Cougars 16-1.

“It was nice to get my first hits as a 21 year old yesterday because I haven’t gotten a hit since before my birthday,” DiDonato said. “Obviously, it was even better to come out of my mini-slump with a home run.”

Senior pitcher Jackie Sasko got the win for the Profs in the first game, recording a complete game shutout and allowing only one hit. Her record is now 13-2. In the second game, sophomore pitcher Amada Singer struck out five in four innings of work for her ninth win of the season.

DiDonato’s three-run home run was just one of the 20 hits amassed by the Profs in their 7-0 and 9-1 wins over the Cougars.

Coach Kim Wilson couldn’t be more pleased with the way her team has been hitting.

“Our hitting has been outstanding,” Wilson said. “It’s been not just one person contributing. When somebody is struggling another person picks them up.”

The Kean doubleheader followed a disappointing split with New Jersey Athletic Conference opponent Rutgers-Camden last week. Going into the games against Kean, the Profs had to make sure that they didn’t let the loss affect them.

Sasko felt that the main difference was in the way they attacked the ball at the plate.

“We were more aggressive against Kean,” Sasko said. “Rutgers-Camden it was cold, we were distracted and we just didn’t hit offensively. We went out swinging and took it to Kean.”

The games against the Cougars were originally scheduled for Saturday, but were then rescheduled, something that has been happening a lot to the Profs this season.

“It’s not easy when games are getting rescheduled all of the time because you get yourself pumped for that game,” said freshman shortstop Ashley Minch. “Then when it gets cancelled it is so much harder to get yourself ready and focused.”

Wilson acknowledges the difficulty that changes in schedules can have on a team but feels that all of the modifications haven’t had a huge impact so far.

“We’ve been pretty resilient which is nice,” Wilson said. “When its time to play, its time to play. We are getting good leadership which I think is a huge part of our success.”

These two huge conference wins bring Rowan’s NJAC record to 9-1, two games ahead of William Paterson, who the Profs play next Saturday. Their overall record is now 22-6.

With just one week left in the season, the Profs hope to continue their dominance in the NJAC and advance into the conference tournament, where wins can guarantee them a bid in the NCAA tournament.

For now, Wilson is just happy with her team’s progress and looking forward to playoffs.

“They are such a coachable bunch,” Wilson said. “It’s great to see them working hard everyday. Where we are now is completely above and beyond where we were at the beginning of the season.”