VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – The Rowan University baseball team lost its season opener at Virginia Wesleyan, 7-6 on Friday.

Left fielder Ricky Allred led the Marlins with two hits in five at bats, a double and four RBIs. Brett Horowitz (1-0) was the winning pitcher in relief. He pitched two scoreless innings and struck out four. The six Virginia Wesleyan pitchers recorded a total of 15 strikeouts. The Marlins improves to 2-0 on the season.

For Rowan, second baseman Joe Franceschini (jr. Toms River, NJ/Toms River E.) went two for four with three RBIs. Right fielder Frank Hasenauer (jr. Iselin, NJ/John F. Kennedy) and second baseman Roland Rodriguez (fr. Miami, FL/Miami Killen) each contributed with one hit. Pitcher Bobby Fox (jr. Ocean Twp., NJ/Ocean Twp.) suffered the loss (0-1) in relief.

The Profs jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Rodriguez came home on an error with Franceschini at the plate. Designated hitter Brian McLaughlin (sr. Glendora, NJ/Triton) also scored on the error. Franceschini crossed home plate on a ground out. The Marlins came back and tied the score in the bottom half.

Rowan went ahead 6-3 after two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth. In the fifth inning, Franceschini drove in McLaughlin with a single to center field and third baseman Bruce Reibis (jr. Jackson, NJ/Jackson Mem.) had a RBI with a fielder's choice. Franceschini recorded his third RBI when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the sixth. Virginia Wesleyan rallied for three runs in the sixth that tied the game. The Marlins’ winning run came in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Rowan continues its three-day trip to Virginia at Christopher Newport University on Saturday, February 17 at 11 a.m.