Rowan University earns a berth in the Division III College World Series
GLASSBORO, N.J. — Amid uncertainties surrounding the pandemic, the Rowan University baseball team was not even sure they were going to play until mid-to-late February. They had not competed since a mid-March 2020 Florida invitational matchup, before their season was canceled after just six games.
The Profs stayed prepared under head coach Mike Dickson and ultimately began their 2021 season with a 6-1 win against Cabrini University on St. Patrick’s Day. The team would go on to finish the year with a 29-6 record (17-1 in conference play), and for the first time since 2005, punched a ticket to the prestigious NCAA Division III College World Series in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Earning a Trip to the Hawkeye State
An 8-3 win against William Paterson captured the Profs their 17th New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) title and second when led by Dickson. In doing so, Rowan made it to the NCAA Regionals for the 27th time.
Less than 10 days later, the team strung together a perfect 4-0 regional championship record — including close 2-0 and 9-8 victories against Marietta College, one of the nation’s top teams, on their home field. While the latter win marked just the sixth regional title in Profs history, it unexpectedly also represented their 29th and final win of their unforgettable year.
Advancing to the College World Series in early June, Rowan played Wheaton College (Norton, Massachusetts) and SUNY Cortland (Cortland, NY) at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Profs fell 6-0 and 4-2 to the respective teams — eliminating them from the double-elimination bracket.
Overcoming Adversity
While Rowan Baseball did not win its first national championship since 1979 (and third overall in program history), Dickson says he was proud of what the team was able to accomplish — including notably earning just their sixth-ever appearance to the College World Series.
“The team fought through a lot of adversities — from not having a fall season to many days of coronavirus testing,” Dickson said. “Gyms and indoor facilities were closed during the winter months when players would normally get ready to come back to campus.”
“We played well enough to win a regional and get to the College World Series,” Dickson added. “That in itself is tough enough to do in a normal season.”
Among the team’s standouts included senior second baseman Alex Kokos, who finished the year with 42 hits and became Rowan’s all-time leader in the category with 230. Also, senior designated hitter/third baseman Ryan McIsaac set the Rowan record for a consecutive-game hitting streak (29), while sophomore pitcher Eli Atiya, was named to the 2021 NCAA Division III College World Series All-Tournament Team. The left-handed pitcher threw 7 1/3 innings in their final game of the season, striking out six batters while walking only one. Overall, Atiya went 9-2 on the season with an impressive 1.68 ERA and team-high 72 strikeouts.
Looking ahead to 2022, Dickson says the program will continue to recruit and attract student-athletes who want to compete at the national level: “We have a very good recruiting class coming in next year and we will continue to aspire to win a College World Series.”
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