CAMDEN, NJ -
Kyle Lamanteer hit a solo homer in the top of the ninth to provide the winning run, and freshman
Nick Watson closed out the game, as #6 Rowan defeated Rutgers-Camden, 11-8, in an NJAC baseball game this afternoon. The Profs (18-3; 6-1 NJAC) earned the win despite the Scarlet Raptors rallying from an 8-2 deficit to tie the game in the eighth inning.
After Rutgers-Camden (14-12; 6-1) tied it, 8-8, in the bottom of the eighth, Lamanteer led off with a solo shot to right field, for his third homer of the season. It proved to be the game-winning hit and Rowan added insurance runs on an RBI double by
Joey Bogart and an RBI single from
Mason Dorsey.
The Scarlet Raptors loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth, but Watson prevailed, getting a strikeout and then a pop up by Rutgers-Camden's Jacob Watson for the final two outs.
Brayden Davis hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning, his team-high ninth of the year, to bring home
Damon Suriani and
Evan McCoach giving Rowan an 8-2 lead.
Rutgers-Camden rallied by scoring six runs in the seventh and eighth innings to tie the game at 8-8, highlighted by a three-run home from Jake Sluskarski in the seventh.
Rowan took an early 4-0 lead in the third on RBI singles by Davis and
Ian Murphy, and got two more runs from walks and an Rutgers-Camden error.
The home team scored twice in the bottom of that inning but Rowan increased its lead to 5-2 after Lamanteer earned an RBI on a ground out. Davis followed with his homer in the sixth to increase the lead to 8-2.
Murphy and Bogart each went 3-for-5 in the game, with Davis going 2-for-5 with four RBI. Suriani and McCoach each scored twice while Bogart and Lamanteer posting two RBI each.
Watson (2-0) earned the win with two scoreless innings and two strikeouts. Starter
Ben Schild went three innings with
Christian Rice,
Jack Norton and
Evan Brasberger all seeing action in relief.
The teams meet up again on Friday at Rowan, with a single game at 3:30 p.m. The Profs will then host Rutgers-Newark on Saturday for "Senior Day" with the doubleheader beginning at 11:30 a.m., preceded by the senior ceremony at 11:15.