Box Score WINTER HAVEN, FL – St. Norbert College scored the winning run in the top of the ninth to defeat the Rowan University baseball team, 3-2 on Saturday.
It was the final game at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational for the Profs (10-5). The Green Knights are 5-4 overall.
The score was tied at two after eight innings. Third baseman Tyler Banovich led off the ninth with a single to left. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by left fielder Sean Grant. Banovich went to third on a wild pitch. After a walk, pinch hitter Jack Maastricht hit a sac fly to center field to drive in Banovich for the winning run.
Right-hander Blake Rutherford picked up the win in relief. He (1-1) threw five scoreless innings and surrendered just two hits. Righty
Eric Shugars (so. Shamong, NJ/Seneca) took the loss. He (2-1) went 8.1 innings and allowed three runs, two earned, on four hits and struck out four.
Second baseman Derek Klegin and Banovich each had two hits for St. Norbert. Shortstop Hunter Larson and Klegin totaled one RBI apiece. Right fielder Sean Ferraro, Klegin and Banovich each touched the plate one time.
Rowan first baseman
Joe Sadler (jr. Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel) reached base all four times he came to the plate with three hits and a walk. He also scored a run. Left fielder
Jason Clapper (sr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) totaled two hits. Center fielder
Shane Brown (sr. Annandale, NJ/North Hunterdon) and designated hitter
Frank Rose (fr. Bayville, NJ/Central Reg.) each knocked in a run while second baseman
Shane Pastore (jr. Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) scored one time.
Both teams put a run across in the third. Klegin singled with one out then stole second and third. He came home on Larson's groundout. Pastore led off the bottom half with a base hit. He swiped second base and scored on Brown's single up the middle.
The Profs went ahead in the fourth. Sadler and right fielder
Monny Strickland (jr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) recorded back-to-back singles. They went to second and third respectively on an error. Rose flied out to right and Sadler touched the plate. The Green Knights evened the score in the fifth. Ferraro reached on an error and went to second. After moving to third on a sacrifice bunt, he scored on Klegin's base hit to left field.
Rowan hosts SUNY New Paltz on Monday, March 20 at 3:30 p.m.
