WINTER HAVEN, FL – The Rowan University won a pair of games at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational on Friday. The Profs defeated New York University, 6-1 then edged Springfield College, 5-4 in 11 innings.
Designated hitter
Anthony Harrold (sr. Woodbury, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) totaled three hits and three runs batted in (RBI) against NYU. Right fielder
Eric Schorr (jr. Audubon, NJ/Audubon) followed with two hits and two RBIs. First baseman
Mitch Walker (jr. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Mem.) scored twice and recorded two hits.
Left-hander
Drew Ryback (jr. Mantua, NJ/Clearview Reg.) earned the win (3-0) on the mound, tossing seven innings and striking out four. Right-hander
Zach Listro (jr. Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway Reg.) pitched 1.2 innings and fanned three batters, while lefty
Dan Shane (sr. Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) closed the game, facing the final batter of the contest and striking him out.
First baseman Colman Hendershot (sr. Lubbock, TX/Coronado), centerfielder Coltrane Tait (jr. Newport Beach, CA/Sage Hill) and third baseman Francis Prior (so. North Caldwell, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) all registered one hit apiece. Righty Sal Cammisuli (jr. Jericho, NY/Jericho) took the loss (2-1), throwing five innings, allowing eight hits and striking out four.
The Violets struck first in the top of the third for a 1-0 advantage. The Brown and Gold responded to even the score in the bottom half when Harrold sent a single down the left field line and scored second baseman
Alex Kokos (jr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley).
The Profs pulled ahead, 3-1 in the sixth off a home run by Harrold and a NYU error. Rowan added three more insurance runs in the seventh to lead, 6-1. Harrold plated shortstop
Nick Schooley (so. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) on a single and Schorr drove in two runs with a double.
In the game versus Springfield, right-hander
Dan Corvo (so. River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley) and
Jean Sapini (so. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) broke the school record for most strikeouts in a contest. The duo struck out a combined 20 batters over 11 innings, surpassing the previous mark of 18 set on three separate occasions (2018, 2008 and 1955). Corvo earned the win (1-0), throwing seven frames and striking out 14. Sapini pitched four innings and fanned six batters.
Walker led Rowan with three hits and a RBI. Schooley, Kokos and Harrold each chipped in with two hits.
Second baseman Jack Simonetty (so. Wappingers Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) posted three hits and one run for Springfield. Righty Jacob Shpur recorded the loss (0-1), pitching 1.2 innings and fanning three batters.
Rowan opened the game with a 3-0 lead over the Pride in the first inning.
Matt Woods (sr. Berlin, NJ/Eastern Reg.) knocked in the first run when he singled to left field. At the next at-bat, Woods came home on a double to right center by Harrold. The final run was brought in when Walker smoked a double to right center and scored Harrold.
The Profs extended their advantage to 4-0 when left fielder
Dan Shane (sr. Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) hit a sacrifice bunt to score Walker in the fourth.
Springfield rallied back to tie the game in the fifth. The game remained scoreless for the next five frames. The Pride put the pressure on in the top of the 11th. With runners on first and third, Corvo struck out back-to-back batters to end the inning. The Profs capitalized in the bottom of the 11th when Harrold drove in the game-winning run on a single through the left side.
The baseball team wraps up the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational challenging Division I opponent Bradley University on Saturday, March 23 at noon.
