BLACKWOOD, NJ – The Rowan University baseball team scored four runs in the 11th inning to defeat New Jersey Athletic Conference opponent (NJAC) Rutgers-Camden, 6-2 on Thursday.
The Profs are on a nine-game win streak and improve to 19-5 overall and 6-1 in the conference. The Scarlet Raptors have an 11-13 record with a 3-4 NJAC mark.
Center fielder
Matt Woods (sr. Berlin, NJ/Eastern Reg.) led the way with two hits, a home run and two runs batted in (RBI) and scored twice. Shortstop
Dillon Mendel (sr. Sparta, NJ/Sparta) registered two hits, including a double and a RBI. Catcher
Steven Hewa (sr. Galloway, NJ/Absegami) and right fielder
Dan Shane (sr. Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) each produced a doubled, while second baseman
Alex Kokos (jr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) scored twice.
Right-hander
Andrew Cartier (sr. Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Reg.) earned the win in relief, pitching 2.2 innings, striking out six and allowing two hits. Righty
Justin Smith (sr. Atco, NJ/Hammonton) tossed 8.1 frames and fanned 10 batters.
For Rutgers-Camden, center fielder Brett Yurgins (fr. Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Reg.) totaled four hits. Right fielder Rob Scanlan (so. Woolwich, NJ/Kingsway Reg.) added two hits and one run, while shortstop Nolan Gerold (jr. Merchantville, NJ/Camden Catholic) hit a home run. Right-hander Jaylen Paula (so. Jersey City, NJ/County Prep) suffered the loss, throwing three innings and giving up five hits and four runs.
The score was tied at two heading into the 11th inning. Shane opened with a double and advanced to third on a balk. On the following at-bat, Woods sent Shane home with a single through the left side. Mendel knocked in Woods when he doubled to right field to go ahead, 4-2. The Profs tacked on another run with an RBI single from first baseman
Mitch Walker (jr. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Mem.). Pinch runner
Frankie Aiello (jr. Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) touch home for the final score of the inning during a run-down play. Cartier locked down in the bottom half and struck out three batters to win the game.
Rowan trailed 1-0 in the third inning when catcher R.J. Concepcion (so. Audubon, NJ/Audubon) brought in Scanlon on a fielder's choice. The Brown and Gold tied the contest in the seventh when Kokos crossed home on a Scarlet Raptors error.
The Profs took a 2-1 advantage in the eighth as Woods blasted a home run to left center. Rutgers-Camden answered in the ninth when Gerold homered to knot the score at two.
Rowan is back in action on Friday, April 12, when it faces Rutgers-Camden at home, with first pitch slated at 3:30 p.m.
