Game One - Box Score
Game Two - Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University baseball team split a conference doubleheader on Saturday against William Paterson University. The Pioneers won the first game, 3-2 and the Profs took the second, 6-2.
William Paterson is 15-6 overall and 5-1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. Rowan has a 13-8 record with a 2-3 conference mark.
Right-hander Jeff White (sr. Medford, NJ/Sterling) pitched a complete game for his third win in the nightcap. He (3-0) scattered eight hits and allowed two earned runs. White had five strikeouts. Left-hander James Young (sr. Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) was the losing pitcher.
Rowan catcher Stephen Petriello (fr. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) was three for four with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. First baseman Sean Kelly (sr. North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) produced two hits (three at bats), a double, two RBIs and one run scored. Third baseman Kevin McMenamin (so. Maple Shade, NJ/Maple Shade) and second baseman Mark Benak (jr. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) registered two hits apiece. Benak also scored one run. Designated hitter Connor Grant (jr. Shrewsbury, NJ/Red Bank Reg.) posted two hits (three at bats) and one RBI.
For William Paterson, catcher Vin Fondacaro (sr. Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock Twp.) went two for four with one RBI and one run scored. Shortstop Rob Pasternak (jr. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) contributed with two hits (four at bats) and one RBI, while third baseman Rich Guillod (jr. Closter, NJ/Northern Valley-Demarest) had two hits (four at bats), a double and one run scored. First baseman Trevor Haughney (jr. Old Briddge, NJ/Old Bridge) added two hits in three trips to the plate.
The Profs got on the scoreboard with two runs in the first inning. Petriello knocked in right fielder Nick Kreiger (so. Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) with a double. Grant’s single to right center, scored Petriello. The Pioneers trailed 2-1 after one run in the second. Pasternak posted a base hit that scored Fondacaro.
Rowan led 6-1 after one run in the third inning and three in the fourth. Kelly crossed the plate on a sac fly by center fielder Eric Perez (jr. Fords, NJ/Woodbridge) in the third. Petriello had a RBI single in the fourth inning and Kelly recorded a two RBI double. Shortstop Ryan Williams (so. Southampton, NJ/Seneca), Benak and Petriello all scored one run. William Paterson’s second run came in the eighth inning. Fondacaro singled home Guillod.
Left-hander Tim O’Shea (sr. Oak Ridge, NJ/Jefferson Twp.) was the winning pitcher in the opener. In eight innings, he (3-0) gave up five hits and two earned runs. O’Shea struck out seven batters. Righty Frankie Colasante (fr. Paramus, NJ/Paramus) threw the ninth inning for his second save. Right-hander Steven Melchiorre (sr. Atco, NJ/Hammonton) had the loss. He (2-3) allowed six hits and three unearned runs. Melchiorre totaled nine strikeouts.
The Pioneers scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning for the victory. Second baseman Scott Ptaszynski (jr. Wharton, NJ/Morris Hills) reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring designated hitter Mike Arnold (so. Dumont, NJ/Dumont). Left fielder Tyler Garguilo (fr. Paramus, NJ/Paramus) crossed the plate for the winning run while Guillod was at bat and got on with a fielder’s choice.
Haughney was two for three while Pasternak and Arnold each contributed with one hit and one run scored. For Rowan, left fielder Rich Powelson (so. Shamong, NJ/Seneca) had two hits (four at bats) and one run scored. Williams had a double, one RBI and one run scored.
The Pioneers had a 1-0 advantage when Pasternak came home on an error in the fifth inning. The Profs took the lead with two runs in the bottom half. Powelson scored on a double by Williams. Benak grounded out and Williams crossed the plate.
Rowan has a rescheduled game at Richard Stockton College on Monday, April 8 at 3:30 p.m.
