Box Score

GLASSBORO, NJ – First baseman Kevin McMenamin’s RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning gave Rowan University a 7-6 victory over William Paterson University in the first round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament on Tuesday.

Rowan (29-11), the third seed, travels to the second seed Kean University (29-10) for the second round on Thursday, May 3 at 3:30 p.m.  It is undetermined who fourth seeded William Paterson (29-12) will face due to a forfeit by top seeded Montclair State University (27-12).  In the other first round games on Tuesday, Kean topped the fifth seed The College of New Jersey (22-19), 8-3 and the sixth seed Ramapo College (28-11) earned a forfeit win over Montclair State.

The tournament moves to the highest overall remaining seed on Saturday-Sunday, May 5-6.  The NJAC champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.  Ticket prices for all rounds are $5 for adults and $2 for students with ID, senior citizens and children.

The game was tied (6-6) heading into the bottom of the 10th inning.  Second baseman Brandon Winkler (sr. Glendora, NJ/Paul VI) led off with a single to center field.  He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by third baseman Mark Benak (so. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield).  Shortstop Marc Magliaro (sr. Monroe Twp., NJ/Monroe Twp.) was intentionally walked and catcher Nick Turano (sr. Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) drew a walk to load the bases with one out.  McMenamin (fr. Maple Shade, NJ/Maple Shade) ripped a single down the left field line scoring Winkler for the winning run.

Right-hander Ryan Peterson (sr. Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) earned the victory in relief.  He (6-1) pitched 4.1 innings without allowing a hit.  Peterson struck out four batters.  Left-hander Josh Jensen (so. West Milford, NJ/West Milford) took the loss.  He (7-1) surrendered one earned run on three hits in 1.2 innings.

Magliaro finished the game with three hits (five at bats) and two RBIs.  Designated hitter C.J. Szymczak (jr. Maple Shade, NJ/Maple Shade) went three for five with one RBI and two doubles.  McMenamin totaled two hits (five at bats), one RBI, one run scored and a double.  Left fielder Nick Kreiger (fr. Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) added two hits (five at bats), two runs scored and one RBI.  Benak produced two hits (five at bats), one RBI and one run scored.  Center fielder Felix Colarte (sr. North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) and Winkler both had one hit (four at bats) and one run scored.  Turano drove in one run, while right fielder Matt Hill (sr. Hamilton Square, NJ/Robbinsville) scored once.

For William Paterson, shortstop Anthony Dorio (sr. Lyndhurst, NJ/Lyndhurst) tallied one hit (three at bats), two runs scored and one RBI.  First baseman Jack Montanile (sr. Weehawkin, NJ/Hudson Catholic) contributed with a double (five at bats), one RBI and one run scored.  Right fielder Rob Somers (sr. West Long Branch, NJ/Shore Reg.) totaled one hit (four at bats) and one run scored.  Designated hitter Adam Derner (sr. River Edge, NJ/River Dell Reg.) posted a double (four at bats) and one RBI.  Catcher Vin Fondacaro (jr. Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock Twp.) and left fielder A.J. Flores (so. West Orange, NJ/West Orange) scored one run apiece.

The Pioneers led, 6-4 after the sixth inning.  The Profs tied the game with one run in the seventh and eighth.  With two outs in the seventh, McMenamin doubled to right center field.  Szymczak followed with a single down the left field line knocking in McMenamin.  In the eighth, Kreiger got on with a base hit and stole second.  He moved to third on Benak’s single.  Magliaro drove Kreiger in with a two out single to right field.

Rowan went ahead 1-0 in the first inning.  With one out, Benak and Magliaro had back-to-back singles.  Benak came home on a fielder’s choice with Turano at bat.  The Profs added three runs in the second for a 4-0 advantage.  Colarte reached with a bunt single and later scored on a base hit by Kreiger.  With the bases loaded, Benak hit into a fielder’s choice, plating Hill.  Kreiger came in on a single by Magliaro.

William Paterson pulled within two (4-2) in the third.  Dorio singled to right center field.  He advanced to second on a single by second baseman Scott Ptaszynski (so. Wharton, NJ/Morris Hills).  Montanile knocked in Dorio with a double to left field.  Derner’s double to left allowed Montanile to score.  The Pioneers took a 6-4 lead with four runs in the sixth.  Fondacaro reached on an error and moved to second when Somers hit into a fielder’s choice.  With the bases loaded, Dorio walked and Fondacaro came home.  Somers crossed the plate on a wild pitch.  Dorio and Flores both scored on an error.

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 1 (at higher seeds)
Game 1 - #6 Ramapo College advances over #1 Montclair State University due to a forfeit
Game 2 - #2 Kean University 8, #5 The College of New Jersey 3
Game 3 - #3 Rowan University 7, #4 William Paterson University 6 (10 inn.)

Thu., May 3 (at higher seeds)
Game 4 – loser game 1 vs. #5 The College of New Jersey (22-19), 3:30 p.m.
Game 5 – #4 William Paterson University (29-12) vs. winner game 1, 3:30 p.m.
Game 6 – #3 Rowan University (29-11) at #2 Kean University (29-10), 3:30 p.m.

If four teams remain after game 6:
Sat., May 5 (at highest remaining seed)
Game 7 – winner game 6 vs. winner game 5
Game 8 – winner game 4 vs.  loser game 6
Game 9 – loser game 7 vs. winner game 8

Sun., May 6 (same site as Saturday)
Game 10 – winner game 7 vs. winner game 9
Game 11 – same as game 10 (if necessary)

If five teams remain after game 6:
Sat., May 5 (at highest remaining seed)
Game 7 – loser game 5 vs. loser game 6
Game 8 – winner game 4 vs. winner game 5
Game 9 – winner game 6 vs. winner game 7.

If two teams remain after game 9:
Sun., May 6 (same site as Saturday)
Game 10 – winner game 8 vs. winner game 9
Game 11 – same as game 10 (if necessary)

If three teams remain after game 9:
Sun., May 6 (same site as Saturday)
Game 10 – winner game 8 vs. loser game 9
Game 11 – winner game 9 vs. winner game 10