Box Score WINTER HAVEN, FL – The 23^rd-ranked Rowan University baseball team won its first game at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational, 17-11 over #24 Eastern Connecticut State University on Saturday evening.
 
The Profs are 2-3 overall while the Warriors have a 0-3 record. Lefty Ryan Sharkey (sr. Rutherford, NJ/St. Mary) threw 5.1 innings to pick up the victory (1-0). Right-hander Tyler Cyr (sr. Bristol, CT/Bristol Central) took the loss (0-1).
 
Right fielder Monny Strickland (fr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) went three-for-four with a double, five runs batted in (RBI) and one run scored. Third baseman Kevin McMenamin (sr. Maple Shade, NJ/Maple Shade) and designated hitter Casey Grimes (sr. Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) each had three hits in five at bats. Grimes recorded two doubles, scored four times and drove in two while McMenamin had two runs scored and one batted in. Shortstop Jason Clapper (so. Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) recorded two hits (four at-bats) and one RBI and crossed the plate three times.
 
Left fielder Eric Oliver (jr. Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Reg.) contributed with two hits, two RBIs and one run scored. First baseman Steven Todd (jr. Millstone Twp., NJ/Allentown) knocked in three runs while catcher Stephen Petriello (jr. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) and second baseman Mike Ras (jr. Millstone Twp., NJ/Allentown) plated two and one respectively. Ras also scored three runs. Center fielder Ryan Pavlik (sr. Blackwood, NJ/Highland Reg.), Petriello and Todd crossed the plate one time apiece.
 
Left fielder Andrew Scully (jr. Stratford, CT/Frank Bunnell) went two-for-three with two RBIs and one run scored for Eastern Connecticut State. Center fielder Joe Perez (sr. North Branford, CT/North Branford), first baseman Corey Keane (sr. Tolland, CT/Tolland) and second baseman/shortstop Christian Budzik (so. Cromwell, CT/Cromwell) each had two hits. Budzik drove in three runs and third baseman Chad Adams (jr. Ware, MA/Williston Northampton) brought home two. Pinch hitter/center fielder Pat Sirois (so. Cromwell, CT/Cromwell), designated hitter Zach Wilkins (fr. Lindenhurst, NY/Lindenhurst) and Perez registered one RBI apiece.
 
Rowan scored five runs in the first inning, including a two-run single from Strickland. The Warriors tallied two in the top of the second on a homer by Adams. The Profs responded with three in the bottom half to take an 8-2 lead. Eastern Connecticut State cut the deficit to two with a pair of runs in both the third and fourth innings.
 
Rowan regained a six-run advantage (12-6) with four in the fourth, in which Strickland smacked a two-run double. The Profs added another run in the fifth while the Warriors plated one in the sixth. Rowan broke the game open with four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Eastern Connecticut State produced two runs in the seventh and ninth innings to end the scoring.
 
The Profs take on the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse on Sunday March 15 at 4 p.m. in Auburndale, FL.