MARIETTA, Ohio — Both winning teams from yesterday met in the first game of Friday's (May 19) action to see who would pencil their names in first for the championship game.  Rowan University used the long ball to take the lead late in the game and defeated Pfeiffer University, 7-5, to move on the championship round.
 
Rowan won a coin toss before the game and chose to be visitors in the contest and wasted no time getting on the scoreboard.
 
"We chose to be visitors so we could get going early and put something on the board," said Rowan Head Coach Kim Wilson.  "It doesn't always work that way, but today it did.  We scored in multiple innings and we answered when we needed to.  It was a well-rounded game."
 
Breanna Bryant got on base with a one-out walk and advance to third on a Cat Thomas single.  Korie Hague doubled to left field, bringing home both baserunners and the Profs jumped out to an early 2-0 lead.  The Falcons answered quickly as Kydall Warren and Emma Chopko drew one-out walks and both came home on Gracie Griffin's double to the right-center gap.   Caiti Mickles then traded places with Griffin as she doubled to left field and Pfeiffer led 3-2 after one inning.  Pfeiffer tacked another run in the next inning when Warren singled home Alexis Walter and the Falcons led 4-2.
 
Rowan got back into the contest by showing off their power hitting skills over the next two innings.  Thomas walked and came home off of a deep blast to left field by McKenzie Melvin, tying the game at four.  Then in the fifth, Devyn DiPasquale singled to center field. And came around to score when Payton Melvin sent a pitch over the fence.  That homer put the Profs in the lead, 6-4.
 
"We just never got in a great rhythm," said Pfeiffer Head Coach Monte Sherill.  "I have to do a better job of getting my players in a position for success.  We're fine, though.  We have plenty of depth and we have a mentality of survive and advance."
 
Kenzi Lyall's RBI single in the bottom of the fifth turned out to be the final run of the game for the Falcons.  Rowan's Emily McCutchen (10-1), who came in to relieve Rylee Lutz early in the second inning, effectively navigated through the potent Pfeiffer lineup.  She only gave up one run while scattering seven hits to earn the victory.
 
"Rylee was a little frustrated today and I felt like she was forcing it a little bit," said Coach Wilson.  "Emily showed a different look and she came in and changed the momentum of the game."
 
Sadie Lee (1-1), who gave up the go-ahead homer, took the loss for the Falcons.
 
Pfeiffer will next play in the winner of the Penn State Berks/Marietta match which is scheduled for 1:40 p.m.