GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University baseball team suffered a 9-2 setback to 13th-ranked The College of New Jersey in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) matchup on Thursday.
The Profs have a 22-11 record with a 6-5 NJAC mark. The Lions improve to 22-6 overall and 10-1 in the conference.
Designated hitter Danny Borup (so. Plainsboro, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro S.) and right fielder Mike Follet (jr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) both went three-for-five for TCNJ. Follet drove in three runs and Borup scored one time. Third baseman Austin Lindsay (jr. New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt), left fielder Jacob Simon (fr. Hightstown, NJ/Hightstown) and second baseman Ben Varone (sr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) each tallied two hits. Lindsay added three RBIs and catcher CJ Gearhart (sr. Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville) and Varone had one RBI apiece. Gearhart scored three runs. Center fielder Thomas Persichetti (fr. Hamilton, NJ/Notre Dame), Lindsay and Varone each hit a double.
Rowan right fielder Jason Clapper (sr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) was two-for-four with one RBI. Designated hitter Joe Sadler (jr. Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel) and first baseman Monny Strickland (jr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) touched the plate one time apiece. Third baseman/shortstop Matt Jolly (sr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) hit a double.
Right-hander Brandon Zachary (jr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill W.) tossed six innings for the win. He (3-3) surrendered just one run and four hits with three strikeouts. Righty Eric Shugars (so. Shamong, NJ/Seneca) took the loss (3-3).
The Lions tallied one run in the first, three in the third and three in the sixth. Sadler came home on a wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth. TCNJ added one run in both the seventh and eighth innings. Clapper knocked in Strickland with a base hit in the eighth for the final run.
The two teams square off again in Ewing, NJ on Friday, April 21 at 3:30 p.m.