UNION, N.J. – Sixth-seeded William Paterson (21-19) fell to fourth-seeded Rowan (23-17), 8-7 in 15 innings, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Baseball Tournament second-round game that was completed May 7 at Kean University.
The Pioneers face fifth-seeded Montclair State (21-19) in an elimination game at 11:30 a.m.
The game was begun May 5 in Glassboro, but was suspended after 12 innings due to darkness.
The Pioneers pushed a run across during their first at-bat at Rowan, as senior center fielder Jordan Aughey (Wanaque, N.J./Lakeland Regional) reached base on a strike three/wild pitch, stole second and scored via a single to left by graduate student shortstop K.C. Abel (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley).
WP added two more in the second on a single to center by sophomore right fielder Anthony Hoagland(Dumont, N.J./Dumont) and a two-run homer over the left-field fence by junior designated hitter Eriq Colon (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack).
Aughey started the top of the third inning with a base on balls and stole second after a strikeout. Senior left fielder Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex Regional) stepped to the plate and drilled a pitch deep to left, the Pioneers' second two-run homer of the game, and WP surged ahead by a 5-0 count.
Back-to-back-to-back doubles by junior right fielder Kyle Golla, senior center fielder Bret Phillips and senior left fielder Eric Oliver, as well as a run-scoring single to left by sophomore designated hitter Monny Strickland, put Rowan on the scoreboard during the bottom of the third, 5-3.
Senior third baseman Victor Sanchez (Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland) drew a two-out walk, stole second and scored on an Aughey double to right-center field, making it a 6-3 margin in the top of the fourth.
Prof senior second baseman Evan Hughes got the run back with a leadoff homer to left center, pulling to within two at 6-4 after four innings.
WP had a chance to break the game wide open during the top of the seventh inning when bases on balls issued to Abel, Kenny and junior catcher Mike Knauf (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) loaded the bags with one out. Hoagland's base hit to left field drove in Abel, but two strikeouts ended the frame and the Pioneers owned a 7-4 edge.
Rowan led off the bottom of the seventh with a single, flyout, walk and groundout to put runners on second and third with one out, but freshman reliever Chris Phillips (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) induced a comebacker and groundout to third base to keep it a three-run game.
The Profs rallied for a three-run ninth to force extra innings. Phillips doubled down the right-field line, Oliver walked and junior shortstop Matt Jolly singled to load the bases with zero outs. Sophomore Bryan Kopko (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) got a strikeout, but freshman third baseman Dillon Mendel followed with an RBI-single to short. Another strikeout brought the Pioneers one out away from finishing it, but senior first baseman Steven Todd's base hit to center field plated two runs and tied the game at 7-7. Kenny's diving catch in the left-center gap kept the go-ahead run on second and ended the frame.
Rowan had the bases loaded again with one out in the bottom of the 10th, but Abel fielded a ground ball and threw home for the second out, and Sanchez picked up a grounder and stepped on third base to end the threat.
The Profs had two on with one out during the 12th inning, but a fielder's choice and strikeout kept Rowan off the scoreboard.
The first six batters went down in order once the game was resumed at Kean. Aughey started the top of the 14th inning by reaching first on an error and advanced to second via an Abel groundout. Kenny was intentionally walked, but the Profs escaped thanks to an inning-ending double play.
Phillips doubled with one out during the bottom of the 14th, but two fly balls recorded by senior pitcher Mitch D'Amato (Edison, N.J./Edison) ended the frame.
WP threatened again in the 15th after senior right fielder Mike Rowe (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) led off with a double off the base of the left-field wall. Two groundouts left him standing on third base, but a strikeout accounted for the third out.
Mendel opened the home half of the 15th with a base hit up the middle, and a sacrifice and Todd double gave Rowan runners on second and third with one out. Senior catcher Greg Myers walked before Golla delivered the winning run with a single through the left side of the infield.
Kenny and Colon each had a two-run homer. Hoagland went 2-for-5 and contributed one RBI and a run scored.
Freshman Eric Rosenberg (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) threw to the first hitter of the seventh inning, finishing with a line of nine hits, four runs, one walk and four strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Phillips gave up one run on two hits and a walk in 2.0 innings, and Kopko allowed six hits, two runs, four walks (three intentional) and three strikeouts over 4.0 innings pitched. D'Amato tossed the 2.1 innings at Kean, surrendering one run on four hits and two walks, striking out one (7-3).
Phillips was 5-for-7 with four doubles, one RBI and two runs scored for Rowan.
Senior Dylan Johannink allowed six runs on six hits and two walks, striking out five over 4.2 innings as the starter. Classmate Corey Feigenbaum gave up one run on three walks during 1.2 innings of work, and sophomore Conner Walsh surrendered a hit to the only batter he faced. Junior Brad Machinski scattered two hits over 5.2 innings, striking out four and walking one. Classmate Rob Grilli picked up the win by tossing 3.0 innings of one-hit ball, striking out two and walking one (3-2).
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