Box Score

NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Rowan dropped its season opener to Christopher Newport University by a score of 5-3 Saturday afternoon at Captains Park.

Christopher Newport improves to 3-2 on the year. Right fielder Drue Vernon paced the Captains offense with three hits (five at-bats) while centerfielder Shannon Mark and left fielder Connor Madden chipped in with two hits each. Five different players scored for CNU and three players were credited with a RBI. Sean Chitsaz picked up his first win on the year tossing six innings allowing two unearned runs on three hits. He struck out five and walked two. Chris Malvagna earned his second save of the season working a scoreless ninth frame.

Four different Profs had a hit on the afternoon, led by catcher Nick Turano’s (so. Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) three hits (four at-bats). Center fielder Matt Citro (jr. Bloomsbury, NJ/Phillipsburg), right fielder Jordan Marsch (sr. Brick, NJ/Brick Twp.) and Turano scored the three runs for Rowan. Right-hander Mike Kramer (so. Summit, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) started the contest giving up just one run on three hits in four innings of work. Righty Kyle Norman (jr. Oakhurst, NJ/Ocean Twp.) suffered the loss (0-1).

The Profs jumped on the scoreboard first in the second inning capitalizing on three errors by the Captains. Marsch began the inning reaching on an error and advanced to second on a single by Turano. Third baseman Brad Woodend (jr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) and shortstop Marc Magliaro (so. Monroe Twp., NJ/Monroe Twp.) also got on by fielding errors, with Marsch and Turano scoring. Christopher Newport responded in the bottom half of the inning. Third baseman Matt Shoemaker walked and stole second to start the inning. He would cross the plate after two straight groundouts making the score 2-1 after two innings.

The Captains put up four runs in the fifth inning to take the lead for good. Vernon led off with a single and moved up to second on a wild pitch. A hit batter and a bunt single loaded the bases. A fielding error tied the score at two and kept the bases loaded. The second run came across on another wild pitch, putting runners at second and third. After a strikeout, first baseman Michael Romett drove in a run on a single. Madden capped off the scoring singling in Romett, who advanced to second on a fielder’s choice. In the top of the seventh, Citro blasted a two-out solo homerun to right field finishing off the scoring for the game.

Rowan is back in action this afternoon when they take on Bridgewater College at 2:00 p.m. The game will be played at Captains Park.