PITMAN, NJ –Six Rowan University student-athletes were named New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Athletes of the Week for the period ending March 11.
Right-handed pitcher
Andrew DiPiazza (jr. Bayville, NJ/Central Reg.) and third baseman
Justin Provost (fr. Hackettstown, NJ/Pope John XXIII) were chosen the Baseball Pitcher and Rookie of the Week respectively. Defender/midfielder
Taylor Gretz (jr. Woolwich Twp., NJ/Kingsway Reg.) was selected the Women's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week. Pitcher
Jesse DeDomenico (so. East Windsor, NJ/Hightstown) earned Softball Pitcher of the Week honors.
Justin Bishop (fr. Somers Point, NJ/Mainland Reg.) was tabbed the Men's Indoor Track & Field Rookie of the Week while
Aspen McMillan (jr. South Brunswick, NJ/South Brunswick) was named the Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week for the sixth time.
DiPiazza tossed a two-hit gem in a 14-0 win over Ripon College at the RussMatt Invitational in Florida (March 10). He threw seven shutout innings, taking a no-hitter into the seventh and tying the school record for strikeouts in a game (15). DiPiazza allowed just one walk in the first inning before retiring the next 17 batters. He is now 2-0 on the young season with a 0.75 ERA and a team-leading 21 strikeouts.
Provost led Rowan to three wins at the RussMatt Invitational in Florida, including a huge victory over top-ranked UMass-Boston (March 11). He went 6-for-12 with nine RBI, three runs scored and two doubles. All three games were multi-hit and multi-RBI games. Provost went two-for-four with three RBI against Salve Regina University (March 9). The following day, he went two-for-four with a double and four RBI in the win over Ripon. Provost wrapped up the week with a two-for-four outing with a double and two RBI, also taking a hit by pitch, in the win over No. 1 UMass-Boston. Provost has started all four games he appeared in so far this season, and is sporting a .429 batting average.
Gretz helped the Profs split a pair of games against ranked teams. She recorded a team-high 17 draw controls on the week, picked up three ground balls and caused three turnovers. Gretz recorded seven of those draw controls along with two ground balls in a tough setback to No. 5 Salisbury University (March 6). She racked up 10 draw controls, three caused turnovers and one ground ball in the Profs' upset win over then-No. 11 Catholic University (March 10). Gretz contributed offensively as well, tallying five goals and an assist on the week, including a hat trick of three goals and one assist in the win over Catholic. Gretz and the Profs edged into the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association rankings for the first time this season on Monday, debuting at No. 24.
DeDomenico picked up three wins in the circle at the Sunkissed Games in Florida. She posted a 3-0 record with a 0.88 ERA, allowing just two earned runs over 16.0 innings of work and striking out 11. DeDomenico hurled two complete games including a complete game shutout. She posted a win in relief against Illinois College (March 9), pitching three innings, giving up four hits and striking out two. DeDomenico followed up later that day with a scoreless inning pitched in relief against Thiel College. The following day, she hurled a complete game shutout to hand Muskingum University its first loss of the season. DeDomenico wrapped up the week with a complete game four-hitter in a 12-2 win over Washington University-St. Louis (March 11), striking out six in the victory. DeDomenico currently sports a 1.52 ERA and 4-1 record this season.
Bishop earns his first NJAC Rookie of the Week honor in the final week of selections upon his All-America performance at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Birmingham, AL (March 9-10). He ran a leg of the Rowan 4x400 meter relay that captured third place at the national meet. The Profs clocked a 3:15.00 in the finals, with Bishop running a split of 48.625 seconds. Rowan earlier clocked a 3:17.93 to finish seventh in the prelims to qualify for the final round. Bishop wrapped up a successful rookie season that saw him named All-America as well as First Team All-NJAC with his contribution to the Rowan 4x400 that won the conference title.
McMillan led Rowan at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Birmingham, AL. She finished as the national runner-up to earn All-America honors in the 60 meter hurdles, clocking an 8.72 to improve upon her seed time (8.74). McMillan qualified for the final via a second place finish in the prelims where she ran an 8.80. She capped off a strong indoor season that also saw her earn two NJAC titles, including the 60 meter hurdles and the 4x200 meter relay.
