Box Score
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – The Rowan University baseball tied Christopher Newport University, 9-9 in its season opener. The game was called after eight innings due to darkness.
Christopher Newport has a 4-0-1 record. Right-hander Kevin O’Hara (sr. Clayton, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) started for the Profs. He threw five innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits. He struck out 10 batters. Righty Jake Schwarz (fr. Hamilton, NJ/Nottingham) tossed two innings in relief. He allowed three earned runs and recorded two strikeouts. Right hander Brian Hrubos (so. N. Cape May, NJ/Lower Cape May Reg.) pitched a scoreless eighth inning, while striking out one hitter.
For Rowan, right fielder John McMullin (sr. Woodbury, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) went four for four with four RBIs, a triple and a double. Center fielder Garrett Mull (sr. Chatsworth, NJ/Lenape) added two hits (five at bats), one run scored and a double. First baseman Matt Johanson (jr. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) contributed with one hit in two at bats, two RBIs, one run scored and a double. Designated hitter Tom Ready (sr. Blackwood, NJ/Triton Reg.) was one for four with two runs scored and one RBI. Second baseman Brandon Winkler (fr. Glendora, NJ/Paul VI) added one hit (two at bats), one RBI and one run scored.
For the Captains, righty Josh Brinkman (jr. Newport News, VA/Hampton Christian) went six innings, giving up one earned run on seven hits. He struck out four hitters. Second baseman Zach Hutchison (so. Virginia Beach, VA/Landstown) posted three hits (five at bats) and three runs scored. Right fielder Eric Cole (sr. Chesapeake, VA/Great Bridge) went one for four with three RBIs, one run scored and a home run. Shortstop Chris Despins (jr. Oak Hill, VA/Oakton) chipped in with two hits (five at bats) and one RBI. Designated hitter Michael Romett (so. Stafford, VA/N. Stafford) went two for four with two RBIs and one run scored.
Rowan trailed 9-3 heading into the top of the eighth inning. Left fielder Jordan Marsch (jr. Brick, NJ/Brick Twp.) led off with a single. He moved to second on a single by third baseman David Lenig (jr. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville). Johanson doubled to right center field, scoring Marsch and Lenig. Second baseman Brad Woodend (so. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) and Ready followed with a walk and a hit by a pitch respectively to load the bases. Winkler hit a single that knocked in Johanson. McMullin drove in Woodend, Ready and Winkler with a triple to right center, tying the game (9-9).
Christopher Newport jumped out to a 2-0 lead after one run in the first and second innings. In the first, Hutchison singled and later scored on an error. Romett came home on a double by center fielder Mike Giarrizzi (sr. Woodbridge, VA/Potomac) in the second. The Captains added three runs in the bottom of the fifth on Cole’s three run homer.
In the sixth, Rowan first baseman Sam Parks (sr. Monroeville, NJ/Woodstown) reached base on a single and pinch runner Scott Weaver (so. Ledgewood, NJ/Roxbury) took his place. Weaver moved to third on McMullin’s single. Catcher Tom Reindel (sr. Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) knocked in Weaver with a single. In the bottom half, shortstop Trae Bailey (sr. Chesapeake, VA/Great Bridge) and Despins each had RBI singles to make the score 7-1.
Both teams posted two runs in the seventh inning. In the top half, Mull hit a lead off double. Ready followed with a single that brought Mull home. Ready went to second on an error and he crossed the plate on a single to center field by McMullin. Romett singled in two runs in the bottom half to put the Captains ahead, 9-3.
Rowan and Christopher Newport will play each other again on Saturday, February 21 at 11 a.m. The Profs will face Bridgewater College (VA) at 3 p.m. The game will be played at Christopher Newport.
