Box Score

AUBURNDALE, FL – The Rowan University baseball team lost to number one ranked SUNY Cortland, 12-8 on Friday night.  It was the first game of the Profs’ spring break at the RussMatt Tournament. 

The Red Dragons are 10-3 overall.  Earlier in the day, Western New England College defeated Cortland, 9-7.  The Profs are 6-2 on the season.  Right-hander Kyle Barkley was the winning pitcher.  He (2-0) went five innings, scattered four hits and did not give up a run.  Righty Steven Melchiorre (sr. Atco, NJ/Hammonton) took the loss. 

Cortland was led by second baseman Mitch Hollander with two hits (five at bats), a triple, three RBIs and two runs scored.  Center fielder Zack Graczyk was two for four with two RBIs and one run scored.  Shortstop John Adornetto contributed with two hits in three at bats, one RBI and two runs scored.  First baseman Max Rosing chipped in with two RBIs.

For Rowan, pinch hitter Casey Grimes (so. Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) produced two RBIs and scored one run.  Right fielder Nick Kreiger (so. Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan), catcher Stephen Petriello (fr. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) and shortstop Ryan Williams (so. Southampton, NJ/Seneca) all had one hit, one RBI and one run scored.  Second baseman Mark Benak (jr. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield), first baseman Sean Kelly (sr. North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) and left fielder Rich Powelson (so. Shamong, NJ/Seneca) each added one hit and one run scored. 

Cortland had a 10-0 lead after five innings.  The Red Dragons tacked on two more runs in the top of the eighth inning.  All eight of the Profs’ runs came in the bottom half. 

Rowan plays Cortland again on Saturday, March 16 at 11 a.m. in Leesburg, FL at Lake Sumter Community College.