Editor’s Note: All quotes were obtained Monday, March 27 after Rowan’s doubleheader against Rosemont.
Rowan softball took on Haverford College on Friday, March 22 in a doubleheader that the Profs dominated and swept. In game one, junior pitcher Rylee Lutz made history. Lutz tossed the first no-hitter of her career and the first for the program since 2019. This feat was accomplished in just five innings, as Rowan run-ruled Haverford en route to the win.
For Lutz, it was just another day at the office; she didn’t even know she was throwing a no-hitter.
“Honestly, I didn’t even know during the game,” Lutz said. “It was so cool when I was just trying to pitch my game and get in and out as much as possible. But knowing afterward, it was a really good feeling, considering this is the first one in my career, so that was cool.”
Head coach Kim Wilson was also not aware of the no-hitter for most of the game, but she did know that one of the two team’s aces was dealing.
“It’s not like I’m going throughout the game thinking she’s pitching a no-hitter,” Wilson said. “I thought she was pitching well and did a nice job. So at the end of the day, it turned out that way.”
While Wilson and Lutz did not know, the rest of the team did. First baseman Cat Thomas was aware but knew not to say anything about it.
“Yeah, I knew it was happening,” Thomas said. “But no one wanted to say anything. She settled in great and finished the game strong. So we’re all happy for her.”
This no-hitter adds to the great season that Lutz is having; she’s currently sporting a 1.71 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and a team-leading 175 strikeouts.
“I’m trying to execute by throwing first-pitch strikes to keep the hitters off balance,” Lutz said. “I’m trying to do a lot of that. I trust my defense a lot as well. I know if a ball gets hit in the field, they will have my back.”
Lutz’s trust in her defense is well-deserved, as left-fielder Zara MacNair made a heads-up play to keep the no-hitter intact.
“I’ll tell you that Zara [MacNair] saved her rear end,” Wilson said. “There was a ground ball through the three-four hole that went out to her, and she threw the kid out at first in the fifth inning.”
Lutz will look to continue her fantastic season in the Profs’ next game on Friday, March 29 against the Kean Cougars.
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