Box Score

UNION, NJ – Rowan University, the second seed, had a 6-1 victory over the sixth seed Montclair State University in the fourth round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Baseball Championship Tournament on Saturday evening.

Rowan (30-10-1) advances from the loser’s bracket to the final on Sunday, May 7 at noon to face top seeded Kean University (34-7). The Profs have to beat the Cougars twice for the title. Earlier on Saturday, Kean defeated Rowan, 5-4 and Montclair State (20-17) had a 2-1 victory over the third seed Rutgers-Newark (22-18) in 15 innings.

The NJAC champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. Ticket prices are $5 for adults and $2 for students with ID, senior citizens and children.

Left-hander Michael Cox (sr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill W.) was the winning pitcher (3-0). He went five innings, allowing one earned run on five hits. Righty Ryan Peterson (jr. Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) threw four scoreless innings to pick up his fifth save of the season. Right-hander Zachary Brown (so. New Vernon, NJ/Morristown) took the loss (5-3). He pitched six innings, giving up four earned runs and eight hits.

Profs’ right fielder Kevin O’Brien (sr. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Mem.) went four for five with one RBI, one run scored and two doubles. Second baseman Brandon Winkler (jr. Glendora, NJ/Paul VI) produced two hits (four at bats) and two RBIs. Left fielder Scott Weaver (sr. Ledgewood, NJ/Roxbury) posted one hit (four at bats), two RBIs and one run scored.

Third baseman Brad Woodend (sr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) and first baseman Matt Hill (jr. Hamilton Square, NJ/Robbinsville) both had one hit and one run scored. Center fielder Matt Citro (sr. Bloomsbury, NJ/Phillipsburg) scored twice and shortstop Marc Magliaro (jr. Monroe Twp., NJ/Monroe Twp.) added one RBI.

For the Red Hawks, left fielder Matthew Moreno (so. Park Ridge, NJ/Park Ridge) tallied one hit (three at bats) and one RBI. Center fielder Michael Boggi (sr. Towaco, NJ/Montville) was one for four with one run scored. Designated hitter Michael Ercolano (sr. Sussex, NJ/Vernon Twp.) and second baseman Andrew Himmelfarb (sr. Upper Nyack, NY/Nyack) registered two hits (three at bats) apiece.

Rowan scored one run in the first and second innings. Woodend singled in the first and stole second. Designated hitter Nick Turano’s (jr. Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) single through the right side moved him to third. Woodend came home on O’Brien’s base hit. In the second, Hill led off with a single and advanced to second on a ground out. Winkler followed with a single to put runners at the corners. Hill crossed the plate on a ground out by Magliaro.

Montclair State got one run in the fourth to trail by one (2-1). Boggi singled to left field and later scored on Moreno’s single up the middle. The Profs recorded two runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Citro reached base on a fielder’s choice in the sixth. After he stole second, Weaver walked. The runners moved to second and third on a ground out. Catcher C.J. Szymczak (so. Maple Shade, NJ/Maple Shade) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Winkler ripped a two run single up the middle that brought Weaver and Citro home. In the seventh, O’Brien doubled to right field and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Citro followed with a walk and he stole second. O’Brien and Citro both scored on a Weaver’s single up the middle.

This is Rowan’s ninth straight appearance in the NJAC Championship Tournament. The Profs have won 13 conference championships (2004, 2003, 1999, 1979, 1978, 1977, 1973, 1971, 1970, 1968, 1967, 1965 and 1958).

The schedule for the NJAC Baseball Championship Tournament follows. Results and the updated schedule for the conference tournament will be available at rowanathletics.com and njacsports.com.

Tue., May 3 (at higher seeds)
Game 1 - #1 Kean University 3, #6 Montclair State University 1
Game 2 - #2 Rowan University 15, #5 The College of New Jersey 3
Game 3 - #3 Rutgers-Newark 12, #4 Ramapo College 7

Thu., May 5 (at higher seeds)
Game 4 – #6 Montclair State University 7, #5 The College of New Jersey 6 (TCNJ is eliminated.)
Game 5 – #1 Kean University 8, #4 Ramapo College 4 (Ramapo is eliminated.)
Game 6 – #2 Rowan University 7, #3 Rutgers-Newark 2

Sat., May 7 (at Kean University, Union, NJ)
Game 7 –#1 Kean University 5, #2 Rowan University 4
Game 8 – #6 Montclair State University 2, #3 Rutgers-Newark 1 (15 inn.) (Rutgers-Newark is eliminated.)
Game 9 – #2 Rowan University 6, #6 Montclair State University 1 (Montclair State is eliminated.)

Sun., May 8 (at Kean University, Union, NJ)
Game 10 – #1 Kean University (34-7) vs. #2 Rowan University (30-10-1), noon
Game 11 – same as game 10 (if necessary), TBA