Game 1 - Box Score
Game 2 - Box Score
LITTLE FALLS, NJ – The Rowan University baseball team swept a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) doubleheader at Montclair State University, 8-7 and 6-3 on Saturday.
Rowan is in first place in the conference with a 12-6 overall record and a 4-0 NJAC mark. Montclair State is 9-6 overall and 2-2 in the conference.
In the first game, right-hander Steven Melchiorre (fr. Atco, NJ/Hammonton) pitched three innings in relief for his first collegiate victory (1-0). He allowed one unearned run and struck out two hitters. Righty Ryan Peterson (jr. Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) tossed the final two innings for the save. Left-hander John Masklee (sr. Totowa, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) went seven innings, allowing seven earned runs for the loss (1-2).
The Profs were led by second baseman Brandon Winkler (so. Glendora, NJ/Paul VI) with three hits (four at bats), three RBIs, one run scored and a double. Designated hitter Eric Newell (jr. Haddon Heights, NJ/Haddon Heights) went two for three with two runs scored and a double. Left fielder Scott Weaver (jr. Ledgewood, NJ/Roxbury) added two hits (five at bats) and one RBI. Shortstop Marc Magliaro (so. Monroe Twp., NJ/Monroe Twp.) was one for three with one RBI and one run scored. First baseman Matt Johanson (sr. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.), right fielder Jordan Marsch (sr. Brick, NJ/Brick Twp.), pinch hitter Mike Scott (jr. Lafayette, NJ/High Point Reg.) and third baseman Brad Woodend (jr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) all scored one run. Catcher Sean Bowen (so. South Harrison, NJ/Kingsway Reg.) registered one RBI.
For the Red Hawks, shortstop Jay Bionde (jr. Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) compiled two hits (four at bats), two RBIs, two runs scored and a triple. Second baseman Andrew Himmelfarb (jr. Nyack, NY/Nyack) went two for five with two runs scored, one RBI and a double. Designated hitter Mike Ercolano (jr. Vernon, NJ/Vernon Twp.) chipped in with one hit (two at bats), one RBI and one run scored. Right fielder Scott Evangelist (sr. Northfield, NJ/Holy Spirit) and catcher Kevin Bond (so. Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) both had one hit and one RBI. Left fielder/center fielder Mickey McGraw (so. Morristown, NJ/Morristown) and pinch runner/left fielder Michael Patterson (fr. Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway) scored one run apiece.
Montclair State went up 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning. Bionde and Himmelfarb had back-to-back singles and advanced to third and second respectively on a ground out. Bionde crossed the plate on a balk and Himmelfarb scored on a sacrifice fly by Bond. Rowan tied the game (2-2) in the top of the second. Johanson reached base on a single and came home on a wild pitch. Bowen’s RBI single up the middle, plated Marsch. In the bottom half, Bionde ripped a two run triple down the left field line.
The Profs tied the game (4-4) with one run in the third and fourth innings. Magliaro singled and later scored on a ground out in the third. Newell led off the fourth with a double. Winkler knocked him in with a single through the left side. The Red Hawks went ahead, 6-4 after scoring one run in the fifth and six innings. Bionde got on base with a walk and scored on a ground out in the fifth, while Ercolano’s sacrifice fly drove in Patterson in the sixth.
Rowan got one in the top of the seventh. Winkler doubled and Weaver drove him in with a single to right field. The Profs tacked on three runs in the eighth to go up, 8-6. Winkler’s single brought Scott and Newell home. Magliaro followed with a sacrifice fly that plated Woodend. Evangelist singled to right center field scoring Himmelfarb in the bottom of the ninth, but Rowan held on for the win.
In the nightcap, right-hander Jeff White (jr. Stratford, NJ/Sterling) pitched eight innings, allowing two runs for the win (2-1). He scattered six hits and struck out four hitters. Right-hander Daniel Nodarse (sr. Rutherford, NJ/Rutherford) went 7.2 innings, giving up three earned runs for the loss (1-1).
Profs’ catcher Nick Turano (so. Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) went three for five with two RBIs, two runs scored, a triple and a double. Citro posted two hits (three at bats), one RBI, one run scored, a triple and a home run. Weaver registered one hit and two runs scored. Marsch was four for five with one RBI and a double. Johanson hit a solo home run. Newell contributed with a hit and a RBI.
For Montclair State, center fielder Michael Boggi (jr. Towaco, NJ/Montville) collected two hits (three at bats) and one run scored. McGraw was one for four with one RBI. Third baseman Ivan Rodriguez (jr. Newark, NJ/East Side) and Himmelfarb each drove in one run, while first baseman Sam Politan (so. Livingston, NJ/Livingston) scored once. Catcher Scott Glozzy (so. Hackettstown, NJ/Warren Hills) tallied one hit (four at bats) and one run scored.
Rowan got on the scoreboard with one run in the top of the third inning. Turano doubled to right center field bringing Weaver home. The Red Hawks tied the game (1-1) in the bottom of the fifth. Himmelfarb’s single plated Politan. The Profs went ahead 2-1 in the top of the sixth following Johanson’s solo homer.
In the eighth, Turano got on base with a single and crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Newell. Citro blasted a solo home run in the top of the ninth. Weaver followed with a walk and he came in on Turano’s triple down the left field line. Marsch doubled down the left field line, plating Turano. In the bottom half, Boggi walked and came home on a single by Rodriguez. Glozzy crossed the plate on a ground out by McGraw.
Rowan travels to NJAC opponent The College of New Jersey on Thursday, April 8 at 3:30 p.m. Montclair State plays at Eastern Connecticut on Tuesday, April 6 at 4 p.m.
