Box Score ASHLAND, VA – The Rowan University baseball team won its season opener. 5-2 at Randolph-Macon College on Saturday afternoon. The Yellow Jackets have a record of 2-3.

Right-hander Dylan Johannink (jr. Medford Lakes, NJ/Shawnee) made the start for Rowan. He pitched four innings and allowed no runs on four hits, while striking out three. Reliever Matt Nelson (jr. Allentown, PA/Parkland) earned the victory. He went four innings and gave up two runs and two hits. Closer Carlos Ruiz (sr. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) pitched a perfect ninth to earn the save.

Catcher Stephen Petriello (so. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) went three for five at the plate. Center fielder Eric Perez (sr. Fords, NJ/Woodbridge) and first baseman Casey Grimes (jr. Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) each had two hits in five at bats. Perez had a run scored and one run batted in (RBI).  Grimes crossed the plate twice, while third baseman Kevin McMenamin (jr. Maple Shade, NJ/Maple Shade) and second baseman Evan Hughes (so. Wilmington, DE/Alexis I duPont) scored one run apiece.  Right fielder Ryan Pavlik (jr. Blackwood, NJ/Highland Reg.) contributed with three hits (five at bats). 

Starting pitcher Daniel Byrd (so. Chesterfield, VA/Cosby) took the loss for Randolph-Macon.  He (0-1) threw four innings and gave up four runs, three earned on eight hits. Left fielder Michael Wallman (so. Forest, VA/Jefferson Forest) was two for four with a run scored.

Rowan jumped on the board in the third inning with three runs. Perez hit a RBI single to right. Grimes scored on a balk after reaching base with a single.  Designated hitter Eric Sellitto (sr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) knocked in the third run with a hit to left field.  Hughes scored on an error in the fourth for a 4-0 advantage. The score was 5-0 in the fifth inning after Grimes came home on a passed ball.  He had a leadoff double to center field to start the inning.  

The Yellow Jackets had two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Shortstop Travis Lodge (so. Chesterfield, VA/Matoaca) hit a sacrifice fly to left and catcher Nicholas Maiolo (so. Powhatan, VA/Powhatan) produced a RBI single to left.

Rowan and Randolph-Macon will play a doubleheader on Sunday starting at 11:30 a.m.