UNION, NJ – Tyler Cannon and Anthony Schooley had three hits each, and righthander Mike Shannon went eight innings to earn the win, as fifth-seeded Rowan (25-11) held on for an 8-6 win over second-seeded Kean in the opening round of the NJAC Baseball Championship.

The double-elimination tournament moves to Rutgers-Camden for the weekend with the  #21 Profs set to take on third-seeded Ramapo, on Friday at 7 p.m. The Roadrunners defeated Rutgers-Camden, 8-7, today.

Shannon (7-2) went 8.0 innings and struck out three, allowing three runs. It marked the third straight game in which the senior threw eight or more innings, while it was his fourth straight victory.

Cannon was 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI, including two doubles to run his Rowan career record to 59. Schooley went 3-for-4 and scored twice while Karson Harcourt and Marco Mannino scored two runs apiece.

Kean threatened in the ninth inning, scoring three runs, but Sean Colbert was able to keep the Cougars at bay, as he got a ground out to Cannon for the game's final out.

Trailing 2-0, Rowan took the lead for good in the second with a four-run inning. The Profs used a walk drawn by Jason Morgan, a single from Harcourt and a bunt single by Schooley to load the bases. Mannino drew a walk to force in a run and with one out, Cannon was hit by a pitch to allow Harcourt to score. Phil Sedalis singled in a run, with Schooley scoring and Pat Defeciani's ground out allowed Mannino to score and give Rowan a 4-2 lead.

Kean added one more in the third but then the Profs scored their insurance runs in the sixth, using a pair of bunts and two Cougar errors. Harcourt led off with a single and Schooley laid down a bunt single, followed by the same from Mannino. A wild pitch moved the Profs around with Harcourt scoring and then Chris Serrano reached on an error. Cannon came through with a single to score Serrano and give Rowan an 8-3 lead.

The Cougars had two men on and used a pair of doubles to pull within, 8-6, before Colbert recorded the final out.