HOBOKEN, NJ – The Rowan University baseball team kicked off the 2019 season with a dominant 25-3 win at Stevens Institute of Technology on Sunday. 
 
Shortstop Dillon Mendel (sr. Sparta, NJ/Sparta) was five-for-eight with four runs batted in (RBI). Catcher Steven Hewa (sr. Galloway, NJ/Absegami) scored four times, had three RBIs and a home run. Second baseman Alex Kokos (jr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) added three hits and three runs. Designated hitter Mitch Walker (jr. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Mem.) totaled four RBIs on two hits, including a home run. Right fielder Eric Schorr (jr. Audubon, NJ/Audubon) chipped in two runs and a homer. 
 
Right-hander Danny Serreino (sr. Jackson, NJ/Jackson Liberty) pitched 3.2 innings, allowing no hits and striking out five batters. Left-hander Drew Ryback (jr. Mantua, NJ/Clearview Reg.) tossed 2.1 frames and struck out two. Right-hander Andrew DiPiazza (sr. Bayville, NJ/Central Reg.) earned the win, pitching two innings and fanned five batters. Right-hander Andrew Cartier (sr. Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Reg.) closed the game in the ninth and contributed two strikeouts. 
 
The Ducks have a 1-4 record. Lefty Chandler Brierley (jr. Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) took the loss on the mound. Right fielder A.J. Falconite (jr. Marlboro, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) recorded one hit and two RBIs. First basemen Tom James (fr. Murrieta, CA/Murrieta Valley) and shortstop Chris Silos (fr. Bogota, NJ/Hawthorne Christian Academy) each had one hit and scored one run. 
 
Rowan jumped out to a 6-0 lead opening frame. Left fielder Dan Shane (sr. Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) led off with a triple. He was knocked in on a single from Mendel on the following at bat. Two more runs scored on a Ducks' throwing error for a 3-0 advantage. Hewa plated the final runs in the inning on a three-run homer. 
 
The Profs kept rolling as they extended their advantage to 12-0 after scoring three runs in the third and fourth innings. Stevens got on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Falconite hit a two-run single to trail, 12-2. 
 
The Brown and Gold responded in the top of the sixth with six runs to pull away, 18-2. Mendel doubled up the middle and brought in two runs. Walker added four more when he blasted a grand slam home run. 
 
Rowan's offense stayed hot for the remainder of the contest scoring seven runs, while only allowing one in the last three innings. 
 
The baseball team travels to Randolph-Macon College for two games on Saturday, March, 2. Rowan takes on Messiah College at 11 a.m. followed by a contest against Randolph-Macon set for 2:30 p.m.