Box Score

UNION, NJ – The Rowan University baseball team edged Kean University, 4-3 in the third round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament on Saturday.   

The Profs (31-12), seeded third, advances to the championship game on Sunday, May 5 at noon.  The top seed Kean University (32-9) drops to the losers bracket and plays the winner of the fifth seed Ramapo College and the second seed William Paterson University at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. 

The double elimination tournament at Kean University continues 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 Dylan Johannink (so. Medford Lakes, NJ/Shawnee) was the winning pitcher.  He (4-0) threw 7.1 innings and gave up three earned runs.  He had six strikeouts.  Righty Jeff White (sr. Medford, NJ/Sterling) went 1.1 innings for his second save.  Right-hander Charles Thielmann (so. Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway) took the loss.  He (7-2) allowed four earned runs.

Center fielder Eric Perez (jr. Fords, NJ/Woodbridge) went three for four with a double and one RBI and one run scored.  Left fielder Nick Kreiger (so. Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) contributed with one hit and two RBIs.  Shortstop Ryan Williams (so. Southampton, NJ/Seneca) produced one hit, one RBI and one run scored.  Right fielder Eric Sellitto (jr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) chipped in with a double and scored one run.  First baseman Sean Kelly (sr. North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) added one hit and one run scored.

For the Cougars, center fielder Matt Meleo (fr. Jackson, NJ/Jackson Mem.) totaled four hits in five at bats and one RBI.  Right fielder Ryan Kelley (fr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) registered two hits (four at bats), a triple, one RBI and one run scored.  Catcher Michael Kendall (fr. Columbus, NJ/Northern Burlington) had one hit and one RBI.  First baseman Salvatore Taormina (fr. Brooklyn, NY/Xaverian) produced a double and scored one run.

Rowan scored four runs in the top of the second inning and Kean had two in the bottom half.  Kelly led off with a walk and later scored on Perez’s single through the left side.  Williams had a base hit up the middle and Sellitto came home.  Kreiger knocked in Perez and Williams with a single up the middle.  With two outs, Kelley tripled to center field and he crossed the plate on a single by Kendall.  The Cougars had one run in the sixth.  Taormina reach base with a double and scored on Kelley’s single to right field.  

In the second round on Thursday, Rowan defeated William Paterson, 15-5 and Kean advanced with a 7-6 victory in 11 innings against the fourth seed Richard Stockton College.  The fifth seed Ramapo eliminated the sixth seed The College of New Jersey, 10-6.  In the first round on Tuesday, 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. 

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 4, #1 Kean University 3
Game 8 – #5 Ramapo College 6,  #2 William Paterson University 2 (William Paterson eliminated) 
Game 9 –#5 Ramapo College 6,  #1 Kean University 2 (Kean eliminated)

Sun., May 5 (at Kean University)
Game 10 – #3 Rowan University (31-12) vs. Ramapo College (28-11-1), noon
Game 11 – same as game 10 (if necessary), TBA