ASHLAND, Va. – Sophomore leftfielder Michael Wallman (Forest, Va./Jefferson Forest) had two hits and a run, but it was not enough as Randolph-Macon dropped a 5-2 decision to Rowan in college baseball Saturday afternoon at Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park.
The Yellow Jackets fell to 2-3, while the Profs were victorious in their season opener.
Both teams had scoring opportunities in the first. Rowan used an error and two singles to load the bases with one away. But sophomore Daniel Byrd (Chesterfield, Va./Cosby) fanned the next two hitters looking to leave the sacks full.
With one away in the bottom of the frame, freshman centerfielder Blake Saathoff (Catonsville, Md./Archbishop Spalding) doubled over the rightfielder's head and sophomore DH Mitch Keeler (Mechanivsville, Va./Atlee) drew a walk. But the next two Yellow Jackets went down looking as R-MC stranded a pair.
The Profs broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third, using four singles and a balk to score three and take a 3-0 lead.
Rowan added single runs in the fourth and fifth to extend its lead to 5-0.
R-MC finally broke through in the fifth. Junior third baseman Nate Meiners (Silver Spring, Md./St. John's Prep) drew a leadoff walk and moved to third on a single to left by Wallman. Sophomore shortstop Travis Lodge (Chesterfield, Va./Matoaca) delivered a sacrifice fly to left to plate Meiners with the first run for the Yellow Jackets. With two away, sophomore catcher Nicholas Maiolo (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) drove in Wallman with a base hit to make it 5-2.
Keeler was on twice for R-MC, drawing a pair of walks. Byrd recorded seven strikeouts in four innings for the Yellow Jackets.
Randolph-Macon and Rowan will play a doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 23, beginning at 11:30 a.m. at Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park.