YORK, PA – The Rowan University baseball team scored three runs in the top of the 12th inning and made it stand in a 4-1 victory over Arcadia University in an elimination game at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional.
Shortstop Dillon Mendel (jr. Sparta, NJ/Sparta) led off the 12th with a base hit to right. Second baseman Alex Kokos (so. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) reached on a throwing error and Mendel went to second. First baseman Anthony Harrold (jr. Woodbury, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) followed with a two-run double to right center and the Profs were ahead 3-1. Harrold advanced to third on a groundout and designated hitter Shawn Leydon (sr. Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) drove him in with a single to right center to make it 4-1.
Right-hander Jordan Friedman (sr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill E.) retired the side in order in the bottom of the 12th to end the contest. He tossed the final five innings and earned the win (1-1). Friedman conceded just two hits. Starter Andrew DiPiazza (jr. Bayville, NJ/Central Reg.) went seven frames and allowed one run on five hits while striking out eight. Righty Connor Laigaie (sr. Holland, PA/Council Rock S.) took the loss (2-2).
The top-seeded Profs (35-10) will play on Sunday, May 20 at 1:30 p.m. against the winner of the game between the fourth seed Virginia Wesleyan University and sixth-seeded Union College. The Knights end the campaign with a 31-16 record and they were the third seed.
Mendel finished with four hits (six at bats) while Leydon was three-for-four. Right fielder Kyle Golla (sr. Pembroke Pines, FL/McArthur) knocked in one run. Left fielder Monny Strickland (sr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) scored one time.
For Arcadia, designated hitter Nick Cardace (sr. Freehold, NJ/Freehold Twp.) was two-for-three with a home run. First baseman Phil Pierfy (so. Easton, PA/Wilson Area) had two hits, one being a double. Second baseman Nick Ponente (jr. Ivyland, PA/Council Rock S.) and catcher Tyler Wisnewski (so. Beachwood, NJ/Toms River S.) also recorded a double apiece.
Rowan took a 1-0 lead in the second. Strickland, Leydon and Golla produced three consecutive singles and Strickland scored on Golla's hit. Cardace led off the sixth with a solo blast to left and the score was tied at one. The Knights had an opportunity to take the lead in the eighth. Cardace walked with two outs and was replaced by pinch runner Josh Fulmer (fr. Pottstown, PA/Owen J. Roberts). Pierfy doubled to right field and Fulmer was waved home. However, Golla fielded the ball off the wall and threw a perfect strike to Harrold, who relayed to catcher Zach Leach (so. Long Valley, NJ/Pope John XXIII) for the tag on Fulmer to end the inning. Arcadia threatened again with runners on first and second and one out in the 11th. Friedman induced a double play groundout to close the frame and send the game to the 12th.
The NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional schedule is below.
Thursday, May 17 (Games 1 and 2 played at PeoplesBank Park; Games 3 and 4 played at Harford Community College)
Game 1: #5 Misericordia 4, #4 Virginia Wesleyan 1
Game 2: #1 Rowan 9, #8 Castleton 0
Game 3: #6 Union 10, #3 Arcadia 3
Game 4: #2 Babson 12, #7 Catholic 11
Friday, May 18
Game 5: #4 Virginia Wesleyan 4, #8 Castleton 3 (Castleton is eliminated)
Game 6: #3 Arcadia 13, #7 Catholic 2 (Catholic is eliminated)
Game 7: #5 Misericordia 6, #1 Rowan 5 (10 inn.)
Game 8: #2 Babson 5, #6 Union 4 (10 inn.)
Saturday, May 19
Game 9: #1 Rowan 4, #3 Arcadia 1 (12 inn.) (Arcadia is eliminated)
Game 10: #4 Virginia Wesleyan vs. #6 Union, 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 20
Game 11: #5 Misericordia vs. #2 Babson, 10 a.m.
Game 12: #1 Rowan vs. winner game 10, 1:30 p.m.
Game 13: winner game 12 vs. loser game 11, 5 p.m.
Monday, May 21
Game 14: winner game 11 vs. winner game 13, 11 a.m.
Game 15: same teams as game 14 (if necessary), 40 minutes after game 14