Box Score UNION, NJ  – The College of New Jersey baseball team edged Rowan University, 4-3 in the third round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament on Saturday afternoon.  The conference tournament is being held at Kean University.
 
The Lions are the second seed and have a 30-9 record.  The Profs were seeded fourth and finish the season with a 24-18 mark. 
 
Right-hander Joe Cirillo (so. Fairfield, NJ/DePaul Catholic) threw eight innings for the victory.  He (7-2) gave up three earned runs.  Pitcher Matt Curry (so. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) was on the mound for the final inning and earned his ninth save.  Righty Brad Machinski (jr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill W.) had the loss.
 
Right fielder Pat Roberts (sr. Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) led TCNJ with three hits in four at bats and he scored two runs.  Left fielder Garen Turner (sr. Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) contributed with two hits, a double and two RBIs.  Designated hitter Mike Follet (so. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) added two hits and one RBI.  Third baseman Pat Anderson (so. Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) had two hits and scored one run.  Catcher CJ Gearhart (jr. Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville) chipped in with one RBI. 
 
For Rowan, third baseman Dillon Mendel (fr. Sparta, NJ/Sparta) produced two hits and three RBIs.  Designated hitter Nick Gallo (jr. Sewell, NJ/Paul VI) went two for four at the plate.  Center fielder Bret Phillips (sr. Audubon, NJ/Audubon) registered two hits and one run.  Left fielder Eric Oliver (sr. Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Reg.) scored two runs.
 
Rowan had two runs in the top of the first inning.  Phillips led off with a single and Oliver was hit by a pitch. With one out,  Gallo had a base hit to load the bases.  Mendel plated Phillips and Oliver with a single down the left field line.
 
Follet had a RBI single in the second inning.  Both teams registered one run in the third.  Oliver crossed the plate on a ground out by Mendel.  Turner doubled in the Lions' run in the bottom half.  TCNJ went ahead 4-3 in the fifth inning.  Turner knocked in Anderson for the tying run.  Gearhart reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Roberts.
 
The schedule for the NJAC Baseball Championship Tournament is below.  Results and the updated schedule for the conference tournament are available at rowanathletics.com and njacsports.com.
 
Tuesday, May 3 (at higher seeds)
Game 1 - #6 William Paterson University 5, #1 Kean University 3
Game 3 - 3 Ramapo College 5, #4 Rowan University 2
 
Wednesday, May 4 (at higher seed)
Game 2 - #5 Montclair State University 11, #2 The College of NJ 4
 
Thursday, May 5 (at higher seeds)
Game 4 - #2 The College of NJ 10, #1 Kean University 6 (Kean is eliminated.)
Game 5 – #6 William Paterson University 7, #4 Rowan University 7
                 (game suspended after 12 innings)
Game 6 –#3 Ramapo College 5, #5 Montclair State University 3
 
If five teams remain after game 6:
Saturday, May 7 (at Kean University)
Game 5 - #4 Rowan University 8, #6 William Paterson 7 (15 innings)
Game 7 - #5 Montclair State University 8, #6 William Paterson 6 (WP is eliminated.)
Game 8 - #2 The College of New Jersey 4. #4 Rowan University 3 (Rowan is eliminated.)
Game 9 - #3 Ramapo College vs. #5 Montclair State University, 6:30 p.m.