CAMDEN, NJ – A marquee pitching matchup quickly turned into a Rowan University offensive display as the baseball team cruised past Rutgers-Camden, 14-2 in the first round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament on Tuesday.
The fourth-seeded Profs (30-8) will play the second seed Ramapo College (30-11) on Friday, May 4 at 7 p.m. The Roadrunners defeated the fifth seed Kean University (19-22), 4-3 in the first round. The Scarlet Raptors (24-14) are the third seed and will face the top seed The College of New Jersey (28-7) on Friday at 3:30 p.m. The remainder of the double elimination tournament will be contested at Kean University.
Rowan posted 21 hits in the game. Second baseman Alex Kokos (so. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) went five-for-six with one double, one triple, three RBIs and two runs. Shortstop/third baseman Nick Schooley (fr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) and right fielder Kyle Golla (sr. Palm Coast, FL/Allentown (NJ)) each tallied three hits (six at bats), one RBI and two runs scored. Catcher Steven Hewa (jr. Galloway, NJ/Absegami) drove in three runs while left fielder Monny Strickland (sr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) and center fielder Dan Shane (jr. Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) had one RBI apiece. Designated hitter Shawn Leydon (sr. Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) recorded a triple and scored twice.
Right-hander Danny Serreino (jr. Jackson, NJ/Jackson Liberty) hurled seven innings for the victory (6-2). He gave up two runs and seven hits while striking out eight. Righty Ian Scheidemann (jr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill W.) was tagged with his first loss of the season (7-1).
For Rutgers-Camden, second baseman Chris Jones (jr. Washington Twp., NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) and shortstop Nolan Gerold (so. Merchantville, NJ/Camden Catholic) each was two-for-four. Jones added a double, one RBI and one run. Designated hitter Matt Yanick (so. Palmyra, NJ/Palmyra) registered a double and one RBI. Center fielder Rob Scanlan (fr. Woolwich, NJ/Kingsway Reg.) knocked in one run and right fielder Brandon Cornelius (sr. Sicklerville, NJ/Timber Creek Reg.) scored one time.
It was an expected pitcher's duel between the top two candidates for NJAC Pitcher of the Year. However, the Profs quickly took a 5-0 lead with one run in the first and four in the second. Third baseman/first baseman Dillon Mendel (jr. Sparta, NJ/Sparta) scored on an error in the opening frame. Golla led off the second with a single, advanced to second on a groundout and scored on Shane's base hit. Schooley followed with a RBI single. After Mendel reached on a single, Kokos tripled in two runs to make it 5-0.
The Scarlet Raptors posted two runs in the fourth. Cornelius had a base knock through the left side and stole second. Jones doubled down the right field line to score Cornelius and end Serreino's scoreless streak at an impressive 34.2 innings. Jones came home on a sacrifice fly by Yanick.
Rowan added one run in the fifth and three in the sixth. Leydon began the fifth with a triple to right field and scored on Golla's base hit. Kokos and first baseman Anthony Harrold (jr. Woodbury, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) reached to start the sixth and both touched the plate on an error. Hewa plated Golla with a single through the left side and the score was 9-2.
The Profs continued to increase their advantage with five runs in the seventh. Schooley hit a leadoff single and scored on a double by Kokos. Harrold walked then Strickland brought home Kokos with a base hit to right center. Leydon singled to load the bases before Hewa sent a two-run base knock to right and Leydon came home on a miscue to make the score 14-2.