AUBURNDALE, FL – The Rowan University baseball team got back on the winning track with an 11-2 victory over Ripon College on Saturday afternoon.
The Profs have a 3-1 record, while the Red Hawks are 0-1.
Left fielder
Dan Shane (sr. Perkasie, PA/Pennridge), shortstop
Dillon Mendel (sr. Sparta, NJ/Sparta), center fielder
Matt Woods (sr. Berlin, NJ/Eastern Reg.) and second baseman
Alex Kokos (jr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) all had two hits apiece for Rowan. Mendel had a team-high three runs batted in (RBI), while catcher
Jared Marks (so. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) and Kokos each added two RBIs.
Left-hander
Drew Ryback (jr. Mantua, NJ/Clearview Reg.) earned the win (2-0) on the mound, pitching five innings and striking out six. Right-hander
Dan Corvo (so. River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley) threw three innings and fanned four batters and righty
Victor Lebron (sr. Blackwood, NJ/Highland Reg.) closed the game in the ninth allowing one hit and no runs.
For Ripon, catcher Michael Barnes (sr. Menomonee Falls, WI/Hamilton), right fielder Riley Erickson (sr. Nekoosa, WI/Nekoosa) and third baseman Jacob Pankratz (fr. Waupaca, WI/Waupaca) produced two hits apiece. Right-hander Brice Swick (jr. Kimberly, WI/Kimberly) tossed six innings, allowing six hits and striking out eight.
Rowan took an early 1-0 in the second inning on a Red Hawks error that scored Kokos. The Profs extended their advantage to 6-0 in the fourth. Right fielder
Frankie Aiello (jr. Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo), Kokos and Schooley filled the bases on three consecutive Ripon errors. Catcher
Jared Marks (so. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) plated Kokos on a fielder's choice. Shane brought in Aiello on a double, while Mendel scored two with a single. Woods drove in the final run of the inning on a single through the left side.
Ripon cut the margin to four (6-2) in the sixth. Designated hitter Jack Nelson (jr. Portage, WI/Portage) singled to right center and scored left fielder Joey Garza (sr. El Segundo, CA/El Segundo). Shortstop Noah Herried (jr. Necedah, WI/Necedah) scored Erickson with a ground out.
Rowan answered with two runs in the seventh to lead, 8-2. Mendel drove in Shane on a double and Walker scored Woods on a sac fly. The Brown and Gold added three runs in the final two innings.
The Profs play Concordia University (TX) on Sunday, March 17 at 10:30 a.m.
