Box Score
NEWARK, NJ – Third seeded The College of New Jersey defeated second seeded Rowan University, 5-2 in game eight of the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament first round at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium on Thursday night.
The double elimination tournament continues at Bears and Eagles Stadium in Newark, NJ on Friday-Sunday, May 16-18. On Friday, seventh seeded Keystone College (31-11) meets fifth seeded Messiah College (28-17) in game nine at 10 a.m., the eighth seed Gwynedd-Mercy College (22-19) plays Rowan (31-13) in game 10 at 1:15 p.m. Game 11 features top seeded Kean University (37-9) against TCNJ (30-10) at 4:30 p.m. and the winner of game nine takes on the winner of game 10 at 7:45 p.m. in game 12. Earlier on Thursday, Gwynedd-Mercy eliminated the fourth seed Penn State Behrend (34-12), 5-3. Keystone knocked out DeSales University (24-20-1) with an 11-5 win and Kean topped Messiah, 7-1.
Pitcher Mike Oliver (sr. Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton W.) got the win on the mound for the Lions. Oliver (6-2) only gave up one run in seven innings and recorded five strikeouts. Eric Gertie (jr. Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) tossed the final 0.1 innings for his ninth save. Left hander Joe Cichy (sr. Vineland, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) took the loss for the Profs. Cichy (5-3) allowed five runs in 6.1 innings, while striking out eight hitters.
Center fielder Dave Mebs (sr. Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) led TCNJ with two hits (five at bats), one RBI and one run scored. Third baseman Vince Mazzaccaro (jr. Gloucester, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) was two for three with two runs scored. Catcher Rich Gawlak (sr. Plainsboro, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro S.) had two hits (four at bats), a double and two RBIs. Left fielder Chris Esperon (so. Union, NJ/Union Catholic) recorded one RBI, while right fielder Matt Barrett (sr. Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley) scored once.
For Rowan, center fielder Garrett Mull (jr. Chatsworth, NJ/Lenape) was one for three with a home run. Right fielder John McMullin (jr. Woodbury, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) added one hit (three at bats), a double and one RBI. Third baseman Paul Urbanovich (sr. Rutherford, NJ/St. Peter’s Prep) had one hit (four at bats), a double and scored one run.
TCNJ went ahead 2-0 in the top of the first inning. Mebs reached base with a single and he scored on second baseman Adam Tussey’s (jr. Brooklawn, NJ/Gloucester) single to right center field. Gawlak doubled in Mazzaccaro. Rowan cut the deficit to one with Mull’s solo homer in the fifth.
The Lions answered with two runs in the top of the sixth. Gawlak’s single scored shortstop Jeff Toth (jr. Parlin, NJ/Sayreville War Mem.) and Esperon drove in Mazzaccaro with a single through the right side. TCNJ took a 5-1 lead after getting one run in the seventh. Mebs hit a RBI single, plating Barrett who got on base with a double. Rowan tried to rally with one run in the ninth, but TCNJ held on for the win. Urbanovich got on with a double and came home on McMullin’s double to left center field.
