GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University baseball team picked up its first New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) doubleheader sweep with a pair of victories, 9-2 and 3-2 in 10 innings, over visiting Kean University on Sunday.
Rowan (25-11, NJAC 9-5) honored seniors Shane Brown (sr. Annandale, NJ/North Hunterdon), Jason Clapper (sr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape), Andrew Cohen (sr. Monroe Twp., NJ/Monroe Twp.), Rob Grilli (sr. Middletown, NJ/Middletown S.), Matt Jolly (sr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) and Brad Machinski (sr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill W.) before the first contest.
Jolly hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning in game two. Second baseman Alex Kokos (fr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) and designated hitter Shawn Leydon (jr. Roxbury, NJ/Roxbury) both walked to begin the frame. Leydon advanced to third on a fielder's choice before Jolly sent a 1-1 pitch up the middle for the win.
Jolly finished the contest with two RBIs and Leydon was two-for-two with two runs. Catcher Steven Hewa (so. Galloway, NJ/Absegami) had one RBI and center fielder Frankie Aiello (fr. Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) scored one time. First baseman Joe Sadler (jr. Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel) and right fielder Michael Decker (so. Montgomery, NJ/Montgomery) each hit a double.
The Cougars are 21-14 with a 7-7 conference record. Center fielder Frank LoGuidice (fr. Edison, NJ/John P. Stevens) went four-for-five with a double and one RBI. Shortstop Mike Fidanza (fr. Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph by the Sea) recorded two hits (three at bats) and one run. First baseman Matt Krupa (jr. Mahwah, NJ/Mahwah) and catcher Brian Cole (so. Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) each had a double. Krupa drove in one run while Cole touched the plate one time.
Grilli tossed the final four innings for the win. He (4-1) allowed one run on four hits while fanning six. Righty Dylan Colatrella (fr. Wall, NJ/Wall) suffered the loss (0-1).
Both teams pushed a run across in the sixth. Cole and Krupa registered back-to-back doubles and Cole came home. Jolly walked with the bases loaded in the bottom half of the inning and Aiello scored. Hewa brought home Leydon with a sacrifice fly in the eighth for a 2-1 lead. Fidanza tripled with one out in the ninth before scoring on an infield single by LoGuidice to tie the game.
Cohen was the winning pitcher in game one. He (3-4) hurled seven innings and surrendered one run and five hits while striking out 10 batters. Right-handed pitcher Justin Hernandez (fr. Edison, NJ/Edison) took the loss (5-2).
Clapper and Kokos tallied three hits apiece. Kokos added a double, three RBIs and two runs. Clapper posted two RBIs and scored twice. Sadler produced two hits, a double and three RBIs. Leydon drove in one run and Aiello had two runs scored. Shortstop Matt Edwards (so. Manasquan, NJ/Manasquan), Jolly and Decker all scored one run and pinch hitter Monny Strickland (jr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) hit a double.
Left fielder Jim Fitzgerald (jr. Lyndhurst, NJ/Lyndhurst) led the Cougars with two hits (four at bats) and one run. Designated hitter Brock Podgurski (sr. Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) and Krupa totaled one RBI apiece. Fidanza crossed the plate one time.
The Profs put up two runs in the first, two in the second and four in the third. Sadler hit a two-run double in the opening frame. Kokos and Leydon each had RBI groundout in the second. In the third, Clapper hit a single up the middle with the bases loaded and two runs scored. Kokos followed with a two-RBI double down the left field line.
Kean got on the scoreboard in the seventh when Podgurski plated Fitzgerald with a base hit. Both teams tallied a run in the eighth. Krupa singled to right center to score Fidenza and Sadler brought home Kokos with a base knock.
Rowan travels to New Jersey City University on Thursday, April 27 for a 3:30 p.m. conference game.