OWINGS MILL, MD – The Rowan University baseball team held on for a 3-2 win at Stevenson University on Monday afternoon.
The Profs are undefeated with a 2-0 record, while the Mustangs have a 6-3 mark.
Third baseman
Victor Cruz (so. Westfield, NJ/Westfield) and left fielder
Dan Shane (sr. Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) led Rowan with two hits apiece. Shane had one run batted in (RBI). Catcher
Steven Hewa (sr. Galloway, NJ/Absegami) and shortstop
Dillon Mendel (sr. Sparta, NJ/Sparta) each had one hit and scored a run. Designated hitter
Mitch Walker (jr. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Mem.) chipped in with one hit and two RBIs.
Right-hander
Danny Serreino (sr. Jackson, NJ/Jackson Liberty) pitched four innings, striking out five and allowing no runs. Left-hander
Drew Ryback (jr. Mantua, NJ/Clearview Reg.) earned the win on the mound, throwing four innings and fanning three batters. Righty
Andrew Cartier (sr. Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Reg.) closed the game in the ninth and picked up his first save on the season. He finished with two strikeouts and gave up two hits.
For Stevenson, designated hitter Brady Kessler (jr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.), third baseman Alex Kidwiler (jr. Burtonsville, MD/Paint Branch) and right fielder Thomas Holcomb (so. Baltimore, MD/Archbishop Curley) produced two hits apiece. Holcomb had a RBI. Center fielder Kevin Murray (jr. Elkridge, MD/Howard) totaled one hit and scored one run.
Lefty Joe Thompson (gr. Landenberg, PA/Avon Grove) suffered the loss and is 2-1 on the year. He pitched two innings and allowed five hits and three runs. Left-hander Jamie Wiercinski (sr. Mineola, NY/Mineola) tossed three innings and struck out six batters while giving up one hit.
Rowan jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Mendel was the first to reach base with a single to left. He advanced to second on a walk by center fielder
Matt Woods (sr. Berlin, NJ/Eastern Reg.). The two runners scored when Walker hit a double to right center. The Profs extended its lead to 3-0 in the second when Shane sent a bunt down the right side to score Hewa.
It was a stalemate for the next five innings as neither side could get across home plate. Stevenson got on the board in the eighth to trail, 3-1. The Mustangs cut the deficit to one (3-2) in the bottom of the ninth. With runners on first and third and two outs, Holcomb singled to center which allowed Stevenson to score. Cartier buckled down and struck out the next batter to seal the victory.
Rowan travels to the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational where it plays eight contests from Friday, March 15 to Saturday, March 23. The Profs open against Keystone College on Friday at 5:30 p.m.
