GLASSBORO, NJ – The second seed Rowan University baseball team scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth to defeat the fifth seed The College of New Jersey, 7-6 in the first round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament on Tuesday afternoon.

Catcher Connor Grant (sr. Shrewsbury, NJ/Red Bank Reg.) started the ninth inning with a single. Pinch hitter Eric Sellitto (sr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) reached on a fielder's choice and right fielder Ryan Pavlik (jr. Blackwood, NJ/Highland Reg.) had a bunt single. Shortstop Ryan Williams (jr. Southampton, NJ/Seneca) recorded a RBI single to center, making the score 6-3. Second baseman Mark Benak (sr. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) then ripped a triple down the right field line that plated three runs and tied the game at six. With the infield drawn in, third baseman Kevin McMenamin (jr. Maple Shade, NJ/Maple Shade) hit a single through the right side that scored Benak for the winning run.

Rowan has an overall record of 29-8 and TCNJ has a mark of 20-17. In the second round, the Profs host the fourth seed Kean University on Thursday, May 1 at 3:30 p.m. Kean defeated the third seed Montclair State University, 5-0 on Tuesday.

Right-handed pitcher Nick Henderson (sr. Browns Mills, NJ/Pemberton Twp.) threw 1.2 innings in relief to earn the win. He (2-0) allowed just one hit. Lefty Mike Correa (so. Freehold, NJ/Freehold Twp.) suffered the loss. He (0-3) pitched one inning and allowed five runs on four hits and walked two batters.

Williams had two hits (four at bats) with two runs scored and a RBI. Benak was two for five with a double, one run scored and three driven in. Designated hitter Casey Grimes (jr. Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) and McMenamin produced two hits and one RBI apiece. Grant had two hits in four at bats and one run scored.

For TCNJ, designated hitter Garen Turner (so. Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) went two for five with a run scored and two RBIs. Shortstop Anthony Cocuzza (jr. Absecon, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) and third baseman Michael Murray (jr. Stewartsville, NJ/Phillipsburg) each produced two hits. Murray also drove in one run. First baseman Josh Limon (jr. Easthampton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) recorded one hit, a run scored and one RBI.

Rowan took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a RBI single by Grimes. The Profs extended the advantage to 2-0 in the fifth when Pavlik hit a sacrifice fly that scored Grant. TCNJ then plated six runs in the eighth. Turner notched a two-run single. Limon, Murray and left fielder Joe Dispoto (sr. Nutley, NJ/Nutley) registered three straight run scoring base hits and Dispoto crossed the plate on a wild pitch.

2014 NJAC Championship Tournament

Tuesday, April 29

Game 1 - #1 Rutgers-Camden 4, #6 William Paterson 0

Game 2 - #2 Rowan 7, #5 The College of New Jersey 6

Game 3 - #4 Kean 5, #3 Montclair State 0

Thursday, May 1

Game 4 - #6 Williams Paterson at #5 The College of New Jersey, 3:30 p.m.

Game 5 - #3 Montclair State at #1 Rutgers-Camden, 3:30 p.m.

Game 6 - #4 Kean at #2 Rowan, 3:30 p.m.

If four teams remain after game 6:

Saturday, May 3 (at highest remaining seed that can host)
Game 7 - winner game 4 vs. loser game 6, 8:30 a.m.
Game 8 - winner game 6 vs. winner game 5, 11:30 a.m.
Game 9 - winner game 7 vs. loser game 8, 2:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 4 (at same site as Saturday)
Game 10 - winner game 8 vs. winner game 9, noon
Game 11 - same as game 10 (if necessary), TBA

If five teams remain after game 6:

Saturday, May 3 (at highest remaining seed that can host)
Game 7 - loser game 5 vs. loser game 6, 8:30 a.m.
Game 8 - winner game 4 vs. winner game 5, 11:30 a.m.
Game 9 - winner game 6 vs. winner game 7, 2:30 a.m.

If two teams remain after game 9:
Sunday, May 4 (at same site as Saturday)
Game 10 - winner game 8 vs. winner game 9, noon
Game 11 - same as game 10 (if necessary), TBA

If three teams remain after game 9:
Sunday, May 4 (at same site as Saturday)
Game 10 - winner game 8 vs. loser game 9, noon
Game 11 - winner game 9 vs. winner game 10, 4:00 p.m.