Box Score
LAGRANGE, GA – The Rowan University baseball team defeated LaGrange College, 9-7 on the first game of its spring break trip on Saturday afternoon.
The Profs, ranked 13th in this week’s D3baseball.com/National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Top 25 Poll, remain unbeaten with an 8-0 record. It is Rowan’s best start since the 2006 season, in which it also won its first eight games. The Panthers have a 6-10 mark.
Rowan right-hander Matt Nelson (fr. Allentown, PA/Parkland) picked up the win in relief. He (1-0) threw 2.1 innings, allowing one unearned run on four hits. Righty Ryan Peterson (sr. Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) tossed the final two innings without giving up a hit for his second save. Left-hander Isaiah Whitfield (so. LaGrange, GA/LaGrange) took the loss. He (0-1) surrendered one earned run in one inning of relief.
Profs’ left fielder Nick Kreiger (fr. Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) went three for five with five RBIs and one run scored. Shortstop Marc Magliaro (sr. Monroe Twp., NJ/Monroe Twp.) produced four hits (five at bats), one RBI, one run scored and a double. First baseman Matt Hill (sr. Hamilton Square, NJ/Robbinsville) posted two hits (five at bats) and two RBIs. Catcher Nick Turano (sr. Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) hit a solo homer. Designated hitter C.J. Szymczak (jr. Maple Shade, NJ/Maple Shade) contributed with two hits (four at bats) and two runs scored. Center fielder Felix Colarte (sr. North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) collected a double and scored twice. Second baseman Brandon Winkler (sr. Glendora, NJ/Paul VI) chipped in with three hits (five at bats) and two runs scored.
For LaGrange, catcher Linwood Roberds (jr. Atlanta, GA/Druid Hills) totaled two hits (four at bats), two RBIs, one run scored and a double. First baseman David Miller (sr. Columbus, GA/Pacelli) and right fielder Jon Brock (jr. Dawson, GA/Terrell Academy) registered two hits (five at bats), one RBI and one run scored apiece. Shortstop Cody Muren (jr. Jacksonville, FL/Episcopal) added two hits (four at bats), one run scored and a double. Left fielder Evin Eichelberger (so. Newport News, VA/Woodside) was one for three with one RBI. Designated hitter Josh Shiver (jr. Sharpsburg, GA/East Coweta) compiled one hit (two at bats), one RBI and one run scored. Center fielder Brandon Espinosa (jr. Montverde, FL/East Ridge) and third baseman Brent Kinsey (jr. Thomasville, GA/Brookwood) each scored once.
Rowan took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning. With one out, Kreiger and Magliaro each singled. Third baseman Mark Benak (so. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) followed with a walk to load the bases. Hill ripped a single to left field, scoring Magliaro and Kreiger. LaGrange tied the game (2-2) in the bottom half. Roberds singled to right field, while second baseman Anthony Iannetta (jr. Asheville, NC/T.C. Roberson) and Espinosa both walked. Eichelberger hit a sacrifice fly to left field allowing Roberds to come home. Miller singled through the right side and Espinosa crossed the plate.
Rowan went up, 3-2 with one run in the fourth. Szymczak reached base on a single and later scored on an error. The Panthers recorded four runs in the fifth for a 6-3 advantage. Muren walked and later scored on an error. Miller came home on a bases loaded walk by Shiver. Roberds’ doubled down the left field line drove in Kinsey and Brock. The Profs tied the game (6-6) with three runs in the sixth. Kreiger hit a two run single through the right side that brought home Colarte and Szymczak. Magliaro added a RBI single that plated Winkler.
Turano led off the top of the seventh with a solo home run to left field. Colarte reached base with a double and Winkler had a single. Kreiger’s single down the right field line allowed Winkler and Colarte to score. In the bottom of the inning, Shiver singled to center field. He came home on an error with left fielder James Hall (jr. Hawkinsville, Ga/Hawkinsville) at bat to bring LaGrange within two (9-7).
Rowan and LaGrange play again on Sunday, March 11 at 4 p.m.
