Box Score ASTON, PA – Neumann University stranded the tying run at third base in the ninth inning and the Rowan University baseball team held on for a 5-4 road win on Thursday.
The Knights (6-8) trailed by three (5-2) entering the bottom of the ninth. Neumann had a runner on second with two outs. Pinch hitter Curt Yenchik (so. Mountain Top, PA/Westwood) singled and it was first and third. Center fielder Sam Banks (so. Portsmouth, RI/Portsmouth) walked to load the bases then shortstop Evan Emerich (sr. Richwood, NJ/Clearview Reg.) hit a two-run single up the middle to make it a one-run game. Left-hander
Drew Ryback (fr. Mantua, NJ/Clearview Reg.) came in for the Profs (14-6) with runners on first and third and induced a fly out to end the contest. It was Ryback's first save.
Right-hander
Eric Shugars (so. Shamong, NJ/Seneca) hurled seven innings for the win. He (3-1) surrendered two unearned runs and eight hits while striking out five. Righty Anthony Stricker (sr. Mechanicsburg, PA/Mechanicburg) took the loss in relief (0-1).
First baseman
Joe Sadler (jr. Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel) had a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Third baseman
Matt Jolly (sr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) drove in two runs and right fielder
Monny Strickland (jr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) knocked in one run. Second baseman
Alex Kokos (fr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley), left fielder
Jason Clapper (sr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) and shortstop
Matt Edwards (so. Manasquan, NJ/Manasquan) each touched the plate one time.
Emerich went two-for-four with a home run and four RBIs. Designated hitter Cody MacNair (jr. Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) totaled two hits (four at bats). Pinch hitter Danny Padilla (fr. Bristol Borough, PA/Bristol), first baseman Joe Nepi (so. New Castle, DE/Hodgson Vo. Tech.) and pinch runner Jon DelValle (sr. Brick, NJ/Brick Mem.) scored one time apiece.
The game was scoreless until the fifth inning when the Knights put two runs on the board with Emerich's homer to left. Rowan tied it in the sixth. Kokos had a lead off single and advanced to third on a groundout. After a foul out, Sadler blasted a two-run shot to left field.
The Profs took the lead with three runs in the eighth. Edwards began the frame with a single and went to third on back-to-back groundouts. With two outs, Clapper and Sadler both walked to load the bases. Jolly singled through the right side and Edwards and Clapper came home. Strickland followed with a base hit to center to plate Sadler.
Rowan begins conference play with a doubleheader against Ramapo College on Saturday, April 1 at 11:30 a.m.
