Rowan University swept Stockton University in another doubleheader this weekend. These games came as a result of the matchup between Kean University getting postponed.
Rowan defeated Stockton 8-0 in six innings in the first game and 8-2 in the second game.
Senior pitcher Emily August, who won NJAC (New Jersey Athletic Conference) Pitcher of the Week last week, got the start on the mound for the Profs in the first game. She pitched six innings, did not give up a run and struck out three batters, earning the win in the circle.
The Profs offense was explosive, as they led 3-0 after two innings.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, senior DH Kelly Duffy was hit by a pitch, and junior catcher Korie Hague singled, which led the Profs to having runners on first and second with one out. Junior right fielder Alexa Saccomanno had an RBI single.
In the next at-bat, freshman Zoe Frisko came up to pinch hit for senior first baseman Mackenzie Short. With runners on first and second, Frisko worked a lengthy at-bat fouling off pitch after pitch, and eventually, she got a hold of a pitch and hit it over the left field fence. Rowan expanded their lead to 7-0, after Frisko’s three-run homerun.
Frisko described her mindset while at-bat.
“I was just thinking about everything that everyone else has done, and where they stood in the box, and what kind of pitches she was throwing,” Frisko said. “I was just up there [in the batter’s box] like ‘have fun,’ I got to make the best of all the situations I’m in whenever I get the opportunity, I have to make the best of it, and I was just seeing the ball and hitting it. Keeping it simple.”
Later in the bottom of the sixth inning, freshman shortstop Payton MacNair and sophomore third baseman Breanna Bryant each got on base with hits, and when junior left fielder Morgan Zane came up to the plate with a chance to end the game, she did just that. She hit a single, bringing home MacNair, and Rowan won the game 8-0 in six innings, with the run rule in effect.
The Profs filled up the stat sheet, with hits from MacNair, Saccomanno, Frisko, Rebecca Lombardo and Sonia Sharma. Hague, Bryant and Zane each added two hits for the Profs.
In the second game of the doubleheader, Saccomanno got the start on the mound, pitching four innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs.
Once again, Rowan got out to a lead in the first inning. MacNair singled, and Bryant doubled leading to runners on first and second with no outs. Zane came up to bat, and MacNair scored on an error by Stockton. Rowan now led 1-0.
Bryant, who totaled four hits and two RBIs on the day, described her at-bats and what led to her success at the plate.
“I think the key factor was seeking out a pitch I could do damage with, not swinging at balls and just being super patient,” Bryant said. “Every game I’m getting more comfortable at the plate and having confidence in what I can do. It also helps when my teammates are always cheering for me and having my back.”
In the top of the second inning, Stockton pieced together some hits and a sacrifice bunt, which allowed two runs to score. Stockton now led 2-1.
Stockton would lead 2-1 until the fourth inning. After numerous walks given up by Stockton’s pitchers, Marissa Semeraro and Stevie Unger, Rowan added three runs and now led 4-2.
Frisko was asked about what the turning point of the second game was.
“I think we were all just communicating really well, trying to figure out how we could hit and produce, we all just got our energy up and started working together as a team.” Frisko said. “One person started hitting the ball, and that energy just kept going from one person to the next, and boom, runs were scored.”
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Hague, Sharma, MacNair and Bryant each got a hit, while freshman pitcher Cat Thomas got on base with a walk. Sharma, MacNair and Bryant each added RBIs, bringing Rowan’s lead to 7-2.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Rowan scored yet again — Lombardo had a RBI single — bringing the score to 8-2.
In the top of the seventh inning, Stockton was unable to score, and they fell to the Profs 8-2. Thomas entered the game in the fifth inning and earned the save. Saccomanno earned the victory on the mound and is 3-1 on the season.
Bryant described the biggest takeaways from this weekend.
“The biggest takeaway from the games this weekend has to be all of us coming together to get wins,” Bryant said. “The team is getting better every game and we are all getting more comfortable with each other and it is really showing.”
Rowan is 6-0 at home, and their next game will be at New Jersey City University on Saturday.
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