UNION, NJ – The Rowan University baseball team defeated Ramapo College, 5-3 for the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship.  It is the Profs’ 14th conference title and they receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.  

The Profs (32-12) were the third seed in the conference tournament while the Roadrunners (28-14-1) were the fifth seed.  Rowan defeated Richard Stockton College, 13-0 in the first round and William Paterson University, 15-5 in the second.  On Saturday, Rowan advanced to the final with 4-3 victory over the top seed Kean University.

Right-hander Steven Melchiorre (sr. Atco, NJ/Hammonton, NJ) was the winning pitcher.  He (7-3) went eight innings and gave up three earned runs.  Melchiorre struck out 10 batters.  Righty Jeff White (sr. Medford, NJ/Sterling) was on the mound in the ninth and earned his third save.  Right-hander Walker Larson (so. Mahwah, NJ/Mahwah) had the loss.  In 5.2 innings, he (2-2) allowed five runs, three earned.

Left fielder Nick Kreiger (so. Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) contributed with one hit, two RBIs and one run scored.  Second baseman Mark Benak (jr. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) was two for four with a double and one RBI.  Third baseman Kevin McMenamin (so. Maple Shade, NJ/Maple Shade) collected one hit, one RBI and one run scored.  Catcher C.J. Szymczak (sr. Maple Shade, NJ/Maple Shade) added one hit and one run scored.  First baseman Sean Kelly (sr. North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) and center fielder Eric Perez (jr. Fords, NJ/Woodbridge) each scored one run.

For Ramapo, first baseman Kevin Kelly (so. Columbia, NJ/North Warren) went three for four at the plate and he had three RBIs.  Right fielder Dave Jacob (sr. Vernon, NJ/Vernon) and designated hitter Chris Werr (so. Pequannock, NJ/Pequannock) both had one hit and scored one run.  Werr’s hit was a double.  Third baseman Brandon Berger (jr. Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere) scored one run.

The Roadrunners went ahead 3-2 in the top of the sixth inning.  Kevin Kelly drove in Werr and Berger with a single to left center.  In the bottom half, the Profs took the lead back with three runs.  Kreiger’s single to right field scored McMenamin and Perez.  Szymczak came home on an error while Kreiger advanced to second on the throw. 

Both teams scored one run in the fourth inning.  Jacob came home on a single by Kevin Kelly for the Roadrunners.  Sean Kelly had a walk for the Profs and he later scored on McMenamin’s base hit down the right field line.  Rowan led 2-1 after Benak drove in Kreiger with a double in the fifth inning.

This was Rowan’s 11th straight appearance in the NJAC Championship Tournament.  The Profs won the conference championship in 2004, 2003, 1999, 1979, 1978, 1977, 1973, 1971, 1970, 1968, 1967, 1965 and 1958.

The results for the NJAC Baseball Championship Tournament are below. 

Tue., April 30 (at higher seeds)
Game 1 - #1 Kean University 8, #6 The College of New Jersey 3
Game 2 - #2 William Paterson University 6, #5 Ramapo College 1
Game 3 - #3 Rowan University 13, #4 Richard Stockton 0

Thu., May 2 (at higher seeds)
Game 4 – #5 Ramapo College 10, #6 The College of New Jersey 6 (TCNJ eliminated)
Game 5 – #1 Kean University 7, #4 Richard Stockton College 6 (11 inn.) (Stockton eliminated)
Game 6 – #3 Rowan University 15, #2 William Paterson University 5

Sat., May 4 (at Kean University)
Game 7 – #3 Rowan University 4, #1 Kean University 3
Game 8 – #5 Ramapo College 6, #2 William Paterson University 2 (William Paterson eliminated)
Game 9 – #5 Ramapo College 6, #1 Kean University 5 (Kean eliminated)

Sun., May 5 (at Kean University)
Game 10 – #3 Rowan University 5, #5 Ramapo College 3