Game 1 - Box Score
Game 2 - Box Score
WINTER HAVEN, FL – The Rowan University baseball team finished its spring break trip at the RussMatt Central Florida Tournament with a doubleheader sweep over Keystone College, 6-1 and 5-0. Both seven inning games were played at Lake Myrtle Park Field #1.
The Profs improve to 8-4 overall, while the Giants have a 5-5 record. In the first contest, right-hander Jeff White (sr. Stratford, NJ/Sterling) pitched six innings for the win (1-1). He allowed one unearned run on four hits and struck out six hitters. Righty Todd Burdette (jr. Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) had two strikeouts in the one inning. Right-hander Jeff Frost (sr. Freehold, NJ/Freehold Boro) took the loss (0-3). He surrendered five earned runs in five innings.
Rowan’s offense was led by second baseman Brandon Winkler (jr. Glendora, NJ/Paul VI) with three hits (four at bats) and two runs scored. Designated hitter C.J. Szymczak (so. Maple Shade, NJ/Maple Shade) went two for two with two RBIs and one run scored. Center fielder Matt Citro (sr. Bloomsbury, NJ/Phillipsburg) and third baseman Brad Woodend (sr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) both provided two hits (three at bats) and one RBI. Left fielder Scott Weaver (sr. Ledgewood, NJ/Roxbury) was one for four with one RBI and one run scored. Catcher Nick Turano (jr. Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) contributed with one hit (three at bats) and one RBI, while first baseman Matt Hill (jr. Hamilton Square, NJ/Robbinsville) had one hit (three at bats) and one run scored.
For Keystone, right fielder Andrew Siano (jr. Springfield, MA/Cathedral) posted one hit (two at bats) and one RBI. Third baseman Lance Ratchford (sr. Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) compiled one hit in three trips to the plate and one run scored. Catcher Brian Henry (sr. Columbus, NJ/Northern Burlington Reg.) and second baseman Esteban Meletiche (jr. Philadelphia, PA/Frankford) recorded one hit apiece.
The Profs went ahead, 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning. Winkler singled and moved to second on a walk by right fielder Kevin O’Brien (sr. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Mem.). Turano followed with a double that drove in Winkler. In the fourth, Woodend hit a RBI single that scored Szymczak.
The Giants cut the deficit to one (2-1) with one run in the top of the fifth. Ratchford singled and moved to third on an error. He crossed the plate on Siano’s sacrifice fly. Rowan tacked on four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Weaver’s single scored Winkler, who reached base with a single. Szymczak ripped a two run single that brought Weaver and O’Brien home. Citro added a RBI single that plated Hill.
In the nightcap, left-hander Curtis Arsi (jr. Washington Twp./Westwood Reg.) was the winning pitcher (3-0). He only surrendered two hits in six innings with eight strikeouts. Righty John O’Hara (sr. Clayton, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) threw the final inning. Right-hander Blaine O’Brien (jr. Scituate, MA/Scituate) suffered the loss (0-1). He tossed a complete game, giving up four earned runs.
Winkler registered two hits (four at bats) and two RBIs. Citro was two for three with two runs scored and one RBI. Hill tallied two hits (three at bats) and one run scored. Szymczak went one for two with one run scored and one RBI. Weaver chipped in with one hit (three at bats) and one run scored.
For the Giants, shortstop Edwin Padua (sr. Philadelphia, PA/Thomas A. Edison), pinch hitters Domenick Montanaro (fr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) and Chris Muniz (fr. Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) and Siano all had one hit.
Rowan scored one run in the second and fifth innings. Weaver led off the second with a single and stole second base. Hill’s single moved Weaver to third and Szymczak followed with a RBI single. In the fifth, Citro hit a one out single. He stole second and went to third on a passed ball. Citro scored on an error with shortstop Marc Magliaro (jr. Monroe Twp., NJ/Monroe Twp.) at bat. The Profs added three runs in the top of the seventh. Citro’s RBI single plated Hill, who reached base with a single. Winkler singled with the bases loaded bringing home Citro and Szymczak.
Rowan returns home to play York College (PA) in a nonconference game on Tuesday, March 22 at 3:30 p.m.
