Box Score

WAYNE, NJ – The Rowan University baseball team defeated William Paterson University, 15-5 in the second round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament on Thursday. 

The Profs (30-12), seeded third, will play at the top seed Kean University (32-8) in the third round on Saturday at 8:30 a.m.  The Cougars advanced with a 7-6 victory in 11 innings against the fourth seed Richard Stockton College.  In the other second round game, the fifth seed Ramapo College eliminated the sixth seed The College of New Jersey, 10-6.

In the first round, Rowan blanked Richard Stockton, 13-0 while Kean defeated The College of New Jersey, 8-3.  William Paterson had a 6-1 win over Ramapo. 

The double elimination tournament continues at Kean University on Saturday-Sunday, May 4-5.  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.

Right-hander Ryan Easterday (so. Westmont, NJ/Haddon Twp.) was the winning pitcher.  He (6-2) went eight innings and gave up four runs, one earned.  Righty Brian Sietsma (jr. Mahwah, NJ/Eastern Christian) threw the final inning.  Right-hander Steve Coral (sr. Totowa, NJ/Passaic Valley Reg.) had the loss.  In 4.1 innings, Coral (5-3) allowed seven runs and six were earned.

Center fielder Eric Perez (jr. Fords, NJ/Woodbridge) was three for four with a triple, three RBIs and three runs scored.  Designated hitter Casey Grimes (so. Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) contributed with three hits (six at bats), a double, one RBI and three runs scored.  First baseman Sean Kelly (sr. North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) and right fielder Eric Sellitto (jr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) each chipped in with one hit, two RBIs and one run scored.  Kelly’s hit was a two-run homer in the fourth inning.  It was his fourth home run on the season. 

Catcher C.J. Szymczak (sr. Maple Shade, NJ/Maple Shade) and shortstop Ryan Williams (so. Southampton, NJ/Seneca) each produced two RBIs.  Williams also had a double.  Second baseman Mark Benak (jr. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) totaled two hits, a double, one RBI and two runs scored.  Left fielder Nick Kreiger (so. Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) added two hits and scored one run.

William Paterson shortstop Rich Guillod (jr. Closter, NJ/Northern Valley-Demarest) went three for five with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored.  Center fielder Ryan Gibbons (sr. Glen Rock, NJ/Glen Rock) registered two hits (four at bats), a double and one run scored.  Right fielder AJ Flores (jr. West Orange, NJ/West Orange) had one hit and one run scored.  Catcher Vin Fondacaro (sr. Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock Twp.) produced one hit and one RBI. 

This is Rowan’s 11th straight appearance in the NJAC Championship Tournament.  The Profs have won 13 conference championships (2004, 2003, 1999, 1979, 1978, 1977, 1973, 1971, 1970, 1968, 1967, 1965 and 1958).  Kean is the defending conference champion and has five NJAC titles and three straight.  William Paterson has won the conference championship 12 times, while TCNJ has eight.  Ramapo was the NJAC champion twice.  Richard Stockton is looking to capture its first conference title. 

The schedule for the NJAC Baseball Championship Tournament is below.  Results and the updated schedule for the conference tournament will be available at rowanathletics.com and njacsports.com.

Tue., April 30 (at higher seeds)
Game 1 - #1 Kean University 8, #6 The College of New Jersey 3
Game 2 - #2 William Paterson University 6, #5 Ramapo College 1
Game 3 - #3 Rowan University 13, #4 Richard Stockton 0

Thu., May 2 (at higher seeds)
Game 4 – #5 Ramapo College 10, #6 The College of New Jersey 6 (TCNJ eliminated)
Game 5 – #1 Kean University 7, #4 Richard Stockton College 6 (11 inn.) (Stockton eliminated)
Game 6 – #3 Rowan University 15, #2 William Paterson University 5

Sat., May 4 (at Kean University)
Game 7 – #3 Rowan University (30-12) vs. #1 Kean University (32-8), 8:30 a.m.
Game 8 – #5 Ramapo College (26-11-1) vs. #2 William Paterson University (27-12), 11:30 a.m.
Game 9 – loser game 7 vs. winner game 8, 2:30 p.m.

Sun., May 5 (at Kean University)
Game 10 – winner game 7 vs. winner game 9, noon
Game 11 – same as game 10 (if necessary), TBA