Box Score WINTER HAVEN, FL – The Rowan University baseball team started its week at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational with an 8-3 victory over Wheaton College (MA) on Friday.
Right-hander
Danny Serreino (so. Jackson, NJ/Jackson Liberty) picked up the win for the Profs (5-1). He (1-0) threw seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits and striking out 10. Serreino did not allow a baserunner until the fifth inning. Righty Dan Southerland (jr. Dartmouth, MA/Dartmouth) took the loss (0-1) for the Lyons (0-2).
Catcher
Steven Hewa (so. Galloway, NJ/Absegami), shortstop
Jason Clapper (sr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) and designated hitter
Frank Rose (fr. Bayville, NJ/Central Reg.) all went two-for-four. Clapper had a triple and Hewa and Rose each recorded a double. Second baseman
Alex Kokos (fr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) and left fielder
Monny Strickland (jr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) each totaled two hits (five at bats). Kokos hit a triple and crossed the plate twice.
Center fielder
Shane Brown (sr. Annandale, NJ/North Hunterdon) tallied a double and two RBIs. Clapper, Rose and Strickland drove in one run apiece. Clapper scored two runs while infielder
Matt Jolly (sr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape), Hewa, Rose and Strickland each touched the plate one time.
Rowan opened the scoring in the second. Strickland led off with a single then stole second. He advanced to third on Hewa's single and came home on a double play. Strickland had a RBI single in the third, Jolly scored on an error and the Profs were ahead 3-0. Clapper began the fourth with a triple to right center and Rose followed with a double to plate Clapper. Rose touched home on Brown's sacrifice bunt.
In the seventh, Kokos tripled down the left field line, Brown followed with a RBI double and Rowan had a 6-0 lead. Hewa doubled to lead off the eighth and Clapper singled him in to make the score 7-0. Clapper later scored on a double play. Left fielder Jared Sharkey (so. West Bridgewater, MA/West Bridgewater Middle) ruined the shutout bid with a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth for Wheaton. He ended the game hitting two-for-four.
The Profs face UMass Boston on Saturday, March 11 at 6 p.m.
