Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – Fourth seeded The College of New Jersey defeated the top seed Rowan University, 6-4 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Baseball Championship Tournament on Saturday afternoon. The tournament is being played at Rowan University.
TCNJ (22-18) advances to play the sixth seed Montclair State University (21-17) on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. Rowan (24-14-1) has been eliminated from the conference tournament and must wait until Sunday, May 16 to see if it receives an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. In the first game on Saturday, the second seed Kean University (31-10) beat Montclair State, 12-3. The Cougars will play the winner of the TCNJ/Montclair State game in the championship on Sunday, May 9 at noon.
Lions’ right-hander Robert Graber (fr. Franklin Lakes, NJ) threw eight innings, allowing four runs. He (3-2) struck out three batters. Righty A.J. Adamczyk (sr. Brielle, NJ/Manasquan) pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his second save. Right-hander Ryan Peterson (jr. Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) took the loss. He (5-2) tossed four innings in relief, surrendering two unearned runs.
TCNJ was led by shortstop Jason Zegarski (jr. Lawrenceville, NJ/Lawrence) with two hits (three at bats), two runs scored and one RBI. Second baseman Scott Kelly (fr. West Windsor, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro N.) was two for four with two runs scored. Catcher Mike Galeotafiore (so. Brick, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) registered one hit (four at bats), two RBIs, one run scored and a double. Designated hitter Anthony Palmiotto (jr. Manchester, NJ/Manchester Twp.) went one for one with two RBIs. Left fielder Chris Esperon (sr. Union, NJ/Union Catholic) crossed the plate once.
For Rowan, right fielder Jordan Marsch (sr. Brick, NJ/Brick Twp.) tallied three hits (five at bats), two runs scored and a double. Designated hitter Kevin O’Brien (jr. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Mem.) collected one hit (four at bats), two RBIs and a double. Third baseman Brad Woodend (jr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) drove in one run with one hit (three at bats). Left fielder Scot Weaver (jr. Ledgewood, NJ/Roxbury) added one hit (two at bats) and one run scored.
In the top of the first inning, TCNJ went ahead 1-0. Kelly led off with a single. He stole second and advanced to third on an error. Zegarski followed with a single to center field that brought Kelly home. Rowan tied the game (1-1) in the bottom of the third. Marsch reached first on a fielder’s choice and stole second. He moved to third on a ground out and scored on a balk.
The Profs took a 2-1 lead in the fourth. First baseman Matt Johanson (sr. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) singled to center field and went to second on the throw. He advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Marc Magliaro (so. Monroe Twp., NJ/Monroe Twp.). Woodend’s sacrifice fly to right field, plated Johanson.
The Lions posted three runs in the top of the fifth to go up, 4-2. Kelly recorded a single. Zegarski reached base on an error. He went to second on the throw and Kelly moved to third. Esperon walked to load the bases. Galeotafiore drove in Zegarski and Kelly with a double to left center field. Galeotafiore advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by first baseman James Ruzich (so. Verona, NJ/Montclair Kimberly Academy). In the bottom half, O’Brien doubled in Marsch and Weaver to tie the game (4-4).
In the top of the ninth, Zegarski singled to left field. Esperson got on base with a fielder’s choice and Zegarski advanced to second on an error. Galeotafiore’s sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third. After a ground out, third baseman Nick Cifelli (fr. Ewing, NJ/Ewing) walked to load the bases. Palmiotto ripped a single up the middle that took a hop over the shortstop’s head and Esperon and Zegarski both came home.
Tickets for the NJAC Championship Tournament are $5 for adults and $2 for students with ID, senior citizens and children. The remaining schedule for the NJAC Baseball Championship Tournament is below. Results and the updated schedule for the double elimination conference tournament will be available at rowanathletics.com and njacsports.com.
Tue., May 4 (at higher seeds)
Game 1 - #6 Montclair State University 3, #1 Rowan University 2 (11 inn.)
Game 2 - #2 Kean University 8, #5 Richard Stockton College 7
Game 3 - #4 The College of New Jersey 11, #3 Rutgers-Newark 9
Thu., May 6 (at higher seeds)
Game 4 - #1 Rowan University 10, #5 Richard Stockton College 7
(Richard Stockton is eliminated.)
Game 5 - #6 Montclair State University 13, #3 Rutgers-Newark 10
(Rutgers-Newark is eliminated.)
Game 6 - #2 Kean University 6, #4 The College of New Jersey 1
Sat., May 8 (at Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ)
Game 7 – #2 Kean University 12, #6 Montclair State University 3
Game 8 – #4 The College of New Jersey 6, #1 Rowan University 4
(Rowan is eliminated.)
Game 9 – #6 Montclair State University (21-17) vs. #4 The College of New Jersey (22-18), 4:15 p.m.
Sun., May 9 (at Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ)
Game 10 – #2 Kean University (31-10) vs. winner game 9, noon
Game 11 – same as game 10 (if necessary), TBA
