Box Score HOBOKEN, NJ – Stevens Institute of Technology brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning but the Rowan University baseball team closed out a 7-4 victory to begin the 2017 season on Sunday afternoon.
 
Catcher Steven Hewa (so. Galloway, NJ/Absegami) led the Profs with two hits (four at bats), one double and three runs batted in. Second baseman Alex Kokos (fr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) had an impressive collegiate debut, recording two hits (five at bats) and driving in two runs. He also scored a run. Designated hitter Joe Sadler (jr. Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel) knocked in one run while right fielder Kyle Golla (sr. Palm Coast, FL/Allentown (NJ)) went two-for-three and crossed the plate twice.
 
The Ducks have a 1-3-1 record. Designated hitter Zeph Walters (sr. Diamond Bar, CA/Diamond Bar) went three-for-four with one double, a home run, one RBI and two runs scored. First baseman Shaye Bartnick (fr. Brockport, NY/Brockport) had two hits (four at bats) and one RBI. Pinch hitter Donny Gherardi (so. Oradell, NJ/Bergen Catholic) drove home one run while second baseman Patrick Rood (fr. Huntington Beach, CA/Mater Dei) and center fielder Michael Mule' (sr. Boca Raton, FL/West Boca Raton) each crossed the plate one time.
 
Right-hander Rob Grilli (sr. Middletown, NJ/Middletown S.) picked up the win (1-0). He allowed two runs on three hits while striking out two. Lefty Danny Poidomani (so. Rochelle Park, NJ/Hackensack) suffered the loss (0-2).
 
Rowan scored three runs in the opening frame. Kokos drew a leadoff walk. Third baseman Matt Jolly (sr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) smacked a double to center and Kokos advanced to third. Sadler followed with a sacrifice fly to score Kokos. After left fielder Jason Clapper (sr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) walked and stole second, Hewa sent a two-run double to right.
 
Each team pushed a run across in the fourth. Shortstop Matt Edwards (so. Manasquan, NJ/Manasquan) had an infield single then stole second. Kokos followed with a RBI base hit to center and Rowan led 4-0. Walters had a solo blast to center in the bottom half of the inning. Mule' scored on a wild pitch in the fifth to cut the deficit to two (4-2).
 
Golla came home on an error in the sixth and the Profs had a 5-2 advantage. Hewa registered a run-scoring single in the eighth and Kokos drove in Golla with a single in the ninth for a 7-2 lead.
 
Walters led off the bottom of the ninth with a double. Rood singled and there were runners on first and third. Bartnick had an infield hit and Walters touched the plate. Rood scored on a groundout to make it a three-run game with two outs and runners on second and third. Righty Andrew Cohen (sr. Monroe Twp., NJ/Monroe Twp.) induced another groundout to end the contest.
 
The Profs travel to Randolph-Macon College for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 4 at noon.