Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – Center fielder Matt Citro’s two out single in the bottom of the ninth gave Rowan University a 5-4 victory over 18th ranked Kean University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Friday afternoon.
The game was tied (4-4) heading into the bottom of the ninth. Profs’ right fielder Jordan Marsch (sr. Brick, NJ/Brick Twp.) was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by pinch hitter Mike Scott (jr. Lafayette, NJ/High Point Reg.). Third baseman Brad Woodend (jr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) singled through the right side of the infield, advancing Marsch to third base. Second baseman Brandon Winkler (so. Glendora, NJ/Paul VI) was intentionally walked to load the bases. With two outs, Citro (jr. Bloomsbury, NJ/Phillipsburg) ripped a single up the middle plating Marsch for the winning run.
Rowan has a 10-6 overall record and a 2-0 mark in the conference. Kean is 13-6 overall and 1-1 in the NJAC. Right-hander Kyle Norman (jr. Oakhurst, NJ/Ocean Twp.) threw 1.2 scoreless innings in relief for the win (2-2). He struck out two hitters. Righty Mike Swietanski (jr. West Deptford, NJ/West Deptford) started the game, allowing three runs in 6.2 innings. He tallied six strikeouts. Right-hander Stephen Montalbano (sr. North Brunswick, NJ/Bishop Ahr) pitched a complete game for the loss (2-3). He surrendered four earned runs, while striking out four batters.
Left fielder Scott Weaver (jr. Ledgewood, NJ/Roxbury) paced the Profs with three hits (four at bats) and two runs scored. Marsh went one for two with two RBIs and one run scored. Woodend contributed with two hits in four trips to the plate and one run scored. Winkler had one hit (three at bats), one RBI and a double. Citro finished the game with one hit (five at bats) and one RBI. First baseman Matt Johanson (sr. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) scored once.
For the Cougars, right fielder Nick Nolan (jr. Linden, NJ/Roselle Catholic) went four for four with three runs scored, two RBIs, two doubles and a home run. First baseman Lee Cavico (so. North Brunswick, NJ/Bishop Ahr) had one hit (three at bats) and two RBIs. Designated hitter Ken Gregory (jr. Pittstown, NJ/Immaculata) scored one run.
Rowan went ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning. Woodend reached base with a single and came home on a double to right center field by Winkler. Kean took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth. Gregory walked and Nolan followed with a two run homer. In the bottom half, Marsch singled through the left side of the infield, scoring Weaver to tie the game (2-2).
Kean went up 3-2 in the top of the sixth. Nolan led off with a double and stole third. He crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Cavico. In the bottom half, the Profs recorded two runs for a 4-3 advantage. Weaver singled and moved to second when Johanson was hit by a pitch. On a successful double steal, there was an error by the catcher allowing Weaver to come home and moving Johanson to third. Marsch followed with a sacrifice fly to left field, plating Johanson. The Cougars tied the game (4-4) in the top of the eighth. Nolan doubled to right center field and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. Cavico singled to right field knocking in Nolan.
Rowan travels to Montclair State University for a NJAC doubleheader on Saturday, April 3 at 11:30 a.m. Kean hosts a doubleheader against New Jersey City University on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
