ALLIANCE, OH - Mike Shannon struck out nine and Tyler Cannon had three hits and scored three runs to lead #15 Rowan to a 9-1 win over Grove City (31-12) in the opening game of the NCAA Mount Union Regional. The Profs (32-10) move into the winners bracket of the double-elimination tournament and will face Catholic, which defeated Mount Union, 11-10, on Saturday at noon.

POST-GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

Shannon (7-2) went eight innings allowing just one run and five hits. The graduate student got out of a jam in the third with two strikeouts and didn't allow The nine strikeouts were his second highest total of the season as he earned the victory, which snapped a two-game losing streak for the Profs.
 
Cannon, the lead-off batter,  was the offensive catalyst as he went 3-for-4 with three runs and two RBI, including the first run of the contest.  Phil Sedalis went 2-for-4 with two RBI with Chris Serrano going 2-for-2 with three runs scored. Marco Mannino picked up two hits and Jason Morgan and Damon Suriani each had an RBI.
 
Rowan posted three runs in the first inning as Cannon led off with a single, and eventually moved to third after a steal and wild pitch, and was brought home by a single from Mannino. Suriani then added a double to score Sedalis and Mannino.
 
The Profs upped the lead to 4-0 as Serrano led off with a walk, stole second and scored on Cannon's double.
 
Cannon again had a hand in Rowan's two runs in the fourth as his single drove in Serrano, who had singled and moved to second. Sedalis followed with a single to bring home Canno, and the Profs led, 6-0.
 
Rowan sealed the win with three runs in the sixth, as Sedalis drove in Serrano with a single and Mannino's ground out allowed  Harcourt to cross the plate. Morgan finished off the scoring with an RBI double that scored Cannon.
 
Saturday's Schedule
8:30 a.m. - Game 3 - Grove City vs. Mount Union
Noon - Game 4 - Rowan vs. Catholic
3:30 p.m. - Game 5 - Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4