Box Score

WINTER HAVEN, FL – The Rowan University baseball team defeated Washington and Jefferson College, 9-1 on Thursday afternoon at Chain of Lakes Field. 

Right-hander Steven Melchiorre (sr. Atco, NJ/Hammonton) threw eight innings for his second win on the season.  He (2-1) only gave up three hits and one earned run.  Melchiorre struck out five batters.  Righty Tyler Dean was the losing pitcher.  He (0-1) went four innings and allowed four hits and six runs, two were earned.

Rowan has a 9-4 record while W&J is 4-4 overall.  Profs’ catcher Stephen Petriello (fr. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) contributed with two hits (four at bats), two RBIs and two runs scored.  Right fielder Nick Kreiger (so. Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) added two hits in three at bats and scored two runs.  Center fielder Eric Perez (jr. Fords, NJ/Woodbridge) and pinch hitter Evan Hughes (fr. Wilmington, DE/Alexis I. duPont) each chipped in with one hit and one RBI. 

Third baseman Kevin McMenamin (so. Maple Shade, NJ/Maple Shade) went two for three with a double and one run scored.  Pinch hitter Johnny Dunn (so. Pitman, NJ/Pitman) had one hit in two trips to the plate and one run scored.  Shortstop Danny Lang (sr. Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) scored one run and had one RBI.  Designated hitter Casey Grimes (so. Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) and pinch runner Bobby Romano (so. Vineland, NJ/Vineland) scored one run apiece.

For Washington and Jefferson, designated hitter Ronny Peirish was one for three with one RBI.  Left fielder Derek McIlvaine had one hit (three at bats) and one run scored.  Catcher Tyler Schultz produced one hit in three at bats.

W&J’s one run came in the top of the first inning.  Peirish had a single through the left side that scored McIlvaine.  Rowan went ahead with four runs in the second.  Petriello drove in Grimes with a base hit down the left field line.  Lang walked with the bases loaded and McMenamin crossed the plate.  Petriello and Kreiger both scored on an error.

The Profs led 6-1 after two runs in the fourth inning.  Kreiger reached base with a single and Lang had a walk.  They came home on an error.  Rowan added three more runs in the seventh. Romano crossed the plate on Perez’s sacrifice fly.  Petriello singled in Dunn and Hughes had a base hit that scored Petriello.   

Rowan plays its final game on spring break against Western Connecticut State University on Friday, March 22 at 2 p.m.  The contest will be held at Chain of Lakes Field in Winter Haven.