Box Score GLASSBORO, NJ – Center fielder
Shane Brown drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth for Rowan University in an 8-7 victory against Neumann University on Wednesday. It was the Profs' home opener.
Rowan trailed 7-5 going into the ninth. Shortstop
Jason Clapper (sr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) was hit by a pitch and catcher
Steven Hewa (so. Galloway, NJ/Absegami) followed with a single. Clapper and Hewa advanced on a sac bunt by left fielder
Monny Strickland (jr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.). Hewa was replaced by pinch runner
Dillon Mendel (so. Sparta, NJ/Sparta).
Designated hitter
Frank Rose (fr. Bayville, NJ/Central Reg.) was hit by a pitch and pinch runner
Matt Edwards (so. Manasquan, NJ/Manasquan) took over at first. Pinch hitter
Shawn Leydon (jr. Roxbury, NJ/Roxbury) drove in Clapper and Mendel with a single to left field. Brown (sr. Annandale, NJ/North Hunterdon) recorded a base hit up the middle and Edwards crossed the plate for the winning run.
The Profs are 4-1 overall and the Knights have a 3-5 record. Hewa ended the game with three hits (five at bats), two doubles, one RBI and one run. Third baseman
Matt Jolly (sr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) and Brown each contributed with two hits and one RBI. Rose chipped in with two RBIs and Clapper scored two runs.
Right-hander
Sam Nocito (jr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) was the winning pitcher. He (1-0) threw two scoreless innings and did not allow a hit. Nocito struck out four batters. Righty Jerome Cevetello (sr. Ocean Twp. NJ/Ocean Twp) had the loss.
For Neumann, catcher Cody MacNair (jr. Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) totaled three hits (five at bats), a home run and two RBIs. First baseman Kyle Weller (sr. Boyertown, PA/Boyertown) totaled three hits (two doubles) and scored one run. Third baseman Duncan Balara (so. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) registered two hits, two RBIs and one run.
The Knights scored six runs in the sixth inning to go ahead 7-3. The Profs started their come back with two runs in the seventh. Clapper singled and Hewa had a double to right field. With two outs, Rose plated Clapper and Hewa with a triple to right field.
Rowan got on the scoreboard with two runs in the third. First baseman
Joe Sadler (jr. Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel) doubled in the first run and he came home on a double by Hewa. In the fourth, Weller led off with a double to right field. With two outs, Balara had a base hit, scoring Weller. Jolly posted a RBI triple to right center in the bottom half.
Rowan starts its 10-game schedule at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational on Friday, March 10 against Wheaton College (MA) at 4 p.m.
