Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University baseball team blanked Valley Forge Christian College, 20-0 on Friday afternoon. The game ended after seven innings due to the 10 run rule.
Rowan improves to 4-0. The Profs are ranked 25th in the D3baseball.com/National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Top 25 Poll and 27th in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Preseason Poll. It was the season opener for Valley Forge Christian.
Right-hander Mike Behar (jr. Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) pitched four innings for his first win. He only allowed two hits and struck out eight batters. Righty Brian Sietsma (so. Mahwah, NJ/Eastern Christian) picked up the save. He registered five strikeouts and gave up one hit in three innings. Right-hander Joel Aponte (sr. Toms River, NJ/Toms River S.) took the loss (0-1).
Profs’ center fielder Felix Colarte (sr. North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) went three for five with six RBIs, three runs scored, two home runs and a double. Catcher Sean Kelly (jr. North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) posted three hits (four at bats), four RBIs, three runs scored, a homer and a double. Second baseman Rich Powelson (fr. Shamong, NJ/Seneca) added two hits (six at bats), four RBIs, four runs scored and a double. Right fielder Matt Hill (sr. Hamilton Square, NJ/Robbinsville) was five for six with two runs scored, one RBI and a double.
Third baseman Kevin McMenamin (fr. Maple Shade, NJ/Maple Shade) contributed with two hits (four at bats), one RBI and one run scored. First baseman Casey Grimes (fr. Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) had two hits (five at bats), three runs scored, two RBIs and a home run. Designated hitter Rich Fagan (jr. Nutley, NJ/St. Benedict’s Prep) and left fielder Eric Perez (so. Hopelawn, NJ/Woodbridge) each had a base hit. Perez scored twice, while shortstop Danny Lang (jr. Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) and Fagan both crossed the plate once. Pinch hitter Scott Bruno (so. Middletown, NJ/Middletown S.) produced one hit (one at bat) and one RBI.
For the Patriots, catcher Matt McKenzie (so. Salisbury, MD/Salisbury Elk-Lick) compiled two hits (three at bats). Center fielder Josh Strohm (fr. Middletown, CT/Middletown) tallied one hit in three at bats.
Rowan scored two runs in the second inning. Kelly led off with a solo home run to right field. Colarte, who reached base with a double, scored on McMenamin’s single up the middle. The Profs added eight runs in the third. Kelly doubled in Hill and Powelson. Colarte followed with a two run homer. Grimes crossed the plate on an error. Powelson doubled in two runs and Hill had a RBI single.
In the fourth, Grimes hit a two run shot over the right center field fence. Rowan tacked on five runs in the sixth for a 17-0 advantage. Fagan came home when Powelson reached on a fielder’s choice. Colarte recorded a grand slam to left field. In the seventh, Powelson ripped a single up the middle to score Grimes. Kelly walked with the bases loaded, bringing in Perez. Bruno’s RBI single plated Powelson.
Rowan hosts Franklin & Marshall College in a doubleheader on Sunday, March 4 at 11 a.m. The first game will be nine innings, followed by a seven inning contest.
