UNION, NJ – The Rowan University baseball team was eliminated from the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament by Ramapo College, 6-5 on Saturday. The conference tournament was hosted at Kean University. 
 
The Profs are 30-10 overall, while the Roadrunners have a 25-13 record. Ramapo's next contest is on Sunday at noon and it will play the winner or loser of game nine depending on the result. Rowan will have to wait and see if it receives an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. 
 
Catcher Liam Duffy (sr. Cranford, NJ/Cranford) led the Roadrunners with three hits and three runs batted in (RBI). Center fielder Philip Mahlik (fr. Bernardsville, NJ/Bernards) and designated hitter Vincent Timpanelli (jr. Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) posted two hits apiece. Mahlik scored two runs. First baseman Matt Meola (jr. Union, NJ/Union) contributed a double and two RBIs. Right-hander Jeff Millet (jr. Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) earned the win (2-0), pitching two innings and giving up three hits and one run. Righty Greg Westhelle recorded his sixth save on the season. 
 
Second baseman Alex Kokos (jr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) produced three hits, a RBI and one run for Rowan. Catcher Steven Hewa (sr. Galloway, NJ/Absegami) had one hit and two RBIs. Designated hitter Mitch Walker (jr. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Mem.) scored twice and added one hit. Right-hander Justin Smith (sr. Atco, NJ/Hammonton) suffered the loss, tossing 6.2 innings and striking out three. Righty Andrew Cartier (sr. Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Reg.) hurled 2.1 frames, allowing no hits and fanning six batters. 
 
It was a stalemate for the first three innings and neither side could cross home plate. The Brown and Gold scored two runs in the fourth to break the deadlock. With runners on first and third, Hewa singled to the pitcher and brought in Walker. Pinch hitter Michael Manganella (so. West Milford, NJ/Don Bosco Prep) drove in Kokos with a RBI single to the shortstop. 
 
Rowan doubled its lead to 4-0 in the fifth frame. Center fielder Matt Woods (sr. Berlin, NJ/Eastern Reg.) reached first on a walk and then stole second. Woods advanced to third with a single to left field by Walker. After a walk from first baseman Anthony Harrold (sr. Woodbury, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) to load the bases, Kokos singled to right field and Woods came home. Hewa knocked in Walker on a sacrifice fly to center field. Ramapo had a run in the sixth to trail, 4-1 when Duffy hit a sacrifice fly to left field and brought in Mahlik. 
 
The Roadrunners took the lead, 6-4 in the seventh. With bases loaded, Duffy drove in two runs with a single to center field. Trimpanelli followed with a RBI single through the left side. Ramapo plated two more runs when Meola doubled to left center. 
 
Rowan put the pressure on in the bottom half, scoring one run to cut the deficit to 6-5. Right fielder Eric Schorr (jr. Audubon, NJ/Audubon) had a RBI single to score Harrold. The Profs gave one last push in the bottom of the ninth to regain the lead. Harrold opened with a double to left center. Pinch runner Jason Bobiak (fr. Westville, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) came into the contest and moved to third on a ground out by Kokos. The Roadrunner defense locked down and recorded the final two outs to win. 
 
Tue., April 30 (at higher seed)
Game 1: #6 Rutgers-Newark 6, #1 Rowan 4       
Game 2: #2 Kean 2, #5 William Paterson 1        
Game 3: #4 TCNJ 9, #3 Ramapo 2         
 
Fri., May 3 (at Kean University's Jim Hynes Stadium)
Game 4: #1 Rowan 7, #5 William Paterson 0 (William Paterson is eliminated.)    
Game 5: #3 Ramapo 3, #6 Rutgers-Newark 2     
Game 6: #4 TCNJ 4, #2 Kean 2
                                                            
Sat., May 4 (at Kean University's Jim Hynes Stadium) 
Game 7: #6 Rutgers-Newark 8, #2 Kean 5 (Kean is eliminated.)  
Game 8: #3 Ramapo 6, #1 Rowan 5 (Rowan is eliminated)
Game 9: #4 TCNJ vs. #6 Rutgers-Newark, 8:50 p.m.
 
IF 2 TEAMS REMAIN AFTER GAME 9
Sun., May 5 (at Kean University's Jim Hynes Stadium) 
Game 10: #3 Ramapo vs. Winner Game 9, noon
Game 11: Same as Game 10 (if needed)Following Game 10
 
IF 3 TEAMS REMAIN AFTER GAME 9
Sun., May 5 (at Kean University's Jim Hynes Stadium) 
Game 10: #3 Ramapo vs. Loser Game 9, noon
Game 11: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10, 4:00 p.m.