#10 Rowan Downs #3 Southern Maine 2-1
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Rowan University junior right-hander Dylan Johannink (Medford Lakes, Fla.) tossed a complete game four-hitter to earn his first win of the season as the 10th-ranked Profs defeated the third-ranked University of Southern Maine Huskies, 2-1, at Chain O Lakes Park Friday morning.
The win was the third straight for Rowan and improved its overall record to 9-2. USM slipped to 7-3 with the loss.
Johannink and USM senior right-hander Chris Bernard (Scarborough, Maine) hooked up in a pitchers duel as each gave up only four hits and one walk. Johannick surrendered an unearned run in the first inning, and then shut down the Huskies bats giving up only two harmless singles over the last eight innings. Bernard, who took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, gave up a run in the fifth and an unearned marker that proved to be the winning run in the eighth.
USM broke on top in the first inning when rookie Paul McDonough (Wells, Maine) scored from second on a throwing error. McDonough doubled to lead off the game, and remained there when senior John Carey's (South Portland, Maine) blooper dropped in for a single. Sophomore Sam Dexter (Oakland, Maine/Messalonskee) forced Carey at second base, but the relay to first trying to double up Dexter was wild allowing McDonough to score and Dexter to take second. Johannink walked the next batter, but escaped further damage when the Profs successfully turned a double play.
After the first inning, Johannink gave up only a second-inning single to senior Troy Thibodeau (Danvers, Mass.) and a one-out single in the seventh to Bernard. In between, Johannink retired 15 consecutive batters.
Bernard was perfect through three innings before walking junior Ryan Pavlik (Blackwood, N.J.) to lead off the fourth. USM senior catcher Matt Verrier (Norway, Maine/Oxford Hills) would pick off Pavlik later in the inning and Bernard got the next two hitters to face the minimum through four innings.
In the fifth, Rowan tied the game at 1-1. Senior Eric Perez (Fords, N.J.) broke up Bernard's no-hit bid with a two-out single, stole second and scored on junior Rich Powelson's (Shamong, N.J.) double.
The Profs scored the winning run in the eighth inning as Powelson reached on an infield error, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Connor Grant (Shrewsbury, N.J.). After Bernard got the second out on a comebacker to the mound, Pavlik delivered the winning run with a single.
Southern Maine is back in action tonight (6:30 p.m.) playing Framingham State University. Rowan is scheduled to play its home opener on Sunday (1:00 p.m.) against Stevens Institute of Technology.
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