Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University baseball team defeated The College of New Jersey, 7-3 in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Friday afternoon.
The Profs improve to 16-7 overall and 2-2 in the conference. The Lions have a 14-10 record with a 2-2 NJAC mark. Rowan is ranked ninth and 15th in this week’s D3baseball.com/National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Top 25 and the American Baseball Coaches Association/Collegiate Baseball Polls respectively.
Right-hander Mike Behar (jr. Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) pitched six innings for the win. He (3-0) allowed one earned run on five hits. Righty Eric Lewis (sr. Wantagh, NY/W.C. Mepham) took the loss. He (3-2) gave up seven runs, three earned on eight hits in six innings.
Rowan second baseman Brandon Winkler (sr. Glendora, NJ/Paul VI) went three for three with two runs scored. Third baseman Mark Benak (so. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) posted two hits (four at bats), three RBIs, one run scored and a double. Shortstop Marc Magliaro (sr. Monroe Twp., NJ/Monroe Twp.) added two hits (four at bats), one run scored and a double. First baseman Sean Kelly (jr. North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) compiled one hit (three at bats), one RBI and one run scored. Catcher C.J. Szymczak (jr. Maple Shade, NJ/Maple Shade) and left fielder Eric Perez (so. Hopelawn, NJ/Woodbridge) were both one for four with one run scored. Center fielder Nick Kreiger (fr. Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) drove in one run.
For TCNJ, first baseman Jimmy Ruzich (sr. Verona, NJ/Montclair Kimberley Academy) registered two hits (five at bats), one run scored and a double. Center fielder Ed Zakrzewski (sr. Three Bridges, NJ/Hunterdon Central Reg.) was one for three with one run scored. Shortstop Anthony Cocuzza (fr. Absecon, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) chipped in with a double and one run scored. Left fielder Joe Dispoto (so. Nutley, NJ/Nutley) went one for four with one RBI.
The Profs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Magliaro hit a leadoff double to left field. Benak’s sacrifice bunt moved Magliaro to third and he scored on an error. Rowan added four runs in the fourth. Szymczak had a single and later scored on a base hit by Kelly. With the bases loaded, Kreiger reached first on an error and Kelly crossed the plate. Benak’s single to center field knocked in Winkler and Perez.
The Lions got on the scoreboard with one run in the sixth. Ruzich singled and went to second on a balk. He advanced to third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch. In the bottom half, Rowan recorded two runs for a 7-1 advantage. Winkler singled and came home on Benak’s double to right field. Benak scored on an error. TCNJ’s final two runs came in the top of the ninth. Zakrzewski had an infield single. Cocuzza followed with a double. He went to third on a throwing error and Zakrzewski scored. Dispoto’s ground out brought Cocuzza home.
Rowan travels to Ramapo College for a conference doubleheader on Saturday, April 7 at 11:30 a.m.
