Game 1 - Box Score
Game 2 - Box Score
ROCKY MOUNT, NC – The Rowan University baseball team split a doubleheader at North Carolina Wesleyan College on Saturday. The Battling Bishops won the first contest, 9-5 and the Profs took the second, 3-1 in seven innings.
Rowan has a 4-3 record, while North Carolina Wesleyan is 7-12. In game one, left-hander Max Knowles (sr. Clinton, NC/Union) was the winning pitcher (1-2). He tossed 7.2 innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out seven hitters. Righty Ben Longton (fr. Winterville, NC/South Central) threw the final 0.1 innings for the save. Right-hander Jeff White (sr. Stratford, NJ/Sterling) took the loss (0-1). He gave up two earned runs in four innings with two strikeouts.
First baseman Zach Alexander (sr. Virginia Beach, VA/Kempsville) went two for four with three RBIs, three runs scored, one double and a homer. Designated hitter Tyler Clark (so. Rocky Mount, NC/Northern Nash) added two hits (three at bats) and two runs scored. Second baseman Jared Sturz (fr. North Port, FL/North Port) produced one hit (four at bats), two RBIs, one run scored and a double. Third baseman Jose Parra (fr. Delray Beach, FL/Atlantic Community) was two for three with one run scored and one RBI. Left fielder Andre Nichols (jr. Winsor, VA/Greenbriar Christian) hit a solo home run. Shortstop Justin Rahm (sr. Sugar Hill, GA/North Gwinnett) scored one run, while center fielder Denver Nixon (sr. Kenly, NC/Princeton) had one RBI.
For the Profs, left fielder Scott Weaver (sr. Ledgewood, NJ/Roxbury) compiled two hits (four at bats), two RBIs, one run scored and one double. Right fielder Kevin O’Brien (sr. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Mem.) went two for four with one RBI, one run scored and a double. Shortstop Marc Magliaro (jr. Monroe Twp., NJ/Monroe Twp.) posted two hits (four at bats) and one RBI. Second baseman Brandon Winkler (jr. Glendora, NJ/Paul VI) and third baseman Bobby Gorski (sr. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) both had one hit and one run scored. First baseman Eric Newell (sr. Haddon Heights, NJ/Haddon Heights) drove in one run and pinch hitter Mark Benak (fr. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) scored once.
Rowan went ahead, 1-0 in the top of the first inning. Weaver got on with a double and O’Brien singled him in. In the bottom of the second, Clark singled and Alexander followed with a double. Clark scored on a ground out by Parra and Alexander crossed the plate on a ground out by Sturz. Rowan tied the game at two in the top of the fourth. O’Brien reached base with a double. Newell ripped a two out single and O’Brien came home.
In the bottom half, the Battling Bishops tallied three runs. Alexander got on base following an error and he later scored on a wild pitch. Sturz doubled in Parra and Nixon’s single knocked in Sturz. North Carolina Wesleyan tacked on four runs in the seventh inning. Nichols hit a solo homer. Alexander added a three-run blast after walks by Rahm and Clark. Rowan got two runs in the eighth and one in the ninth. Gorski and Winkler both singled in the eighth. Weaver followed with single that brought both of them home. In the ninth, Magliaro ripped a single that plated Benak. Longton forced a pop up with the bases loaded for the save.
In the nightcap, left-hander Curtis Arsi (jr. Washington Twp., NJ/Westwood Reg.) pitched a complete game for the win (2-0). He surrendered one earned run on five hits and struck out eight batters. Righty Andrew Webb (sr. Rocky Mount, NC/Northern Nash) threw seven innings for the loss (2-3). He allowed two earned runs on six hits. Webb totaled five strikeouts.
The Profs were led by first baseman Matt Hill (jr. Hamilton Square, NJ/Robbinsville) with two hits (three at bats), two runs scored, one RBI and a double. Magliaro was one for three with one run scored and a double. Catcher Nick Turano (jr. Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan), third baseman Brad Woodend (sr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) and Weaver each had one hit (three at bats).
For North Carolina Wesleyan, Rahm collected two hits (three at bats) and one RBI. Center fielder Zach Moore (jr. Wilson, NC/Greenfield School) went one for three with one run scored. Left fielder Andre Nichols (jr. Winsor, VA/Greenbriar Christian) and Sturz contributed with one hit apiece.
In the top of the third inning, Hill led off with a single and went to second on a ground out. He moved to third on a single by Woodend. With two outs, Winkler reached base on an error and Hill crossed the plate. In the bottom half, Moore singled and later scored on a single by Rahm. Rowan won the game with two runs in the top of the seventh. Magliaro hit a one out double. Hill’s double knocked in Magliaro. Hill stole third and crossed the plate on an error.
Rowan continues its spring break trip at the RussMatt Central Florida Tournament from Monday, March 14-Friday, March 18. On Monday, the Profs face Wheaton College (MA) at Lake Sumter Community College in Leesburg, FL at 11 a.m.
