ASTON, PA – Left fielder Monny Strickland gunned down the potential tying run at home plate for the final out and the Rowan University baseball team held on for a 3-2 victory at Neumann University on Wednesday.

The Profs were ahead by one entering the bottom of the ninth. Right-hander Justin Smith (jr. Atco, NJ/Hammonton) retired the first two batters before right fielder Zach Ray (fr. Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Reg.) singled up the middle. Second baseman Andrew La Rosa (so. Brick, NJ/Brick Mem.) was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second.

Shortstop Andrew Fowler (fr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) sent a base hit to left field. Pinch runner Colin Pollard (fr. Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) rounded third and attempted to score the tying run. Strickland (sr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) fielded the ball and threw to home plate where catcher Zach Leach (so. Long Valley, NJ/Pope John XXIII) applied the tag to end the contest.

Rowan improves to 14-1 overall and increased its win streak to 11 games. The Profs are ranked first in the American Baseball Coaches Association Poll and third by D3baseball.com. The Knights drop to 8-10.

Strickland ended the game with a double, one RBI and one run. Third baseman Justin Provost (fr. Hackettstown, NJ/Pope John XXIII) recorded a double and scored a run. Center fielder Dan Shane (jr. Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) and right fielder Kyle Golla (sr. Palm Coast, FL/Allentown (NJ)) each knocked in one run. First baseman Anthony Harrold (jr. Woodbury, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) crossed the plate one time.

Left-hander Dante Scafidi (jr. Sewell, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) went six innings for the win (2-0). He surrendered two runs on five hits and struck out three. Smith tossed the last three frames and allowed just two hits with three strikeouts for his second save. Righty Grant Wallace (jr. Newtown Square, PA/Marple Newtown) gave up three runs and four hits in 5.2 innings for the loss (2-1). He fanned four batters.

Neumann third baseman John Schoelkopf (jr. Washington Twp., NJ/Washington Twp.) and catcher Cody MacNair (sr. Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) tallied two hits (four at bats) apiece. MacNair posted one RBI and Schoelkopf scored a run. Outfielder Joey Pedorenko (sr. Collegeville, PA/Pope John Paul II) drove in one run and center fielder Matt McLaughlin (jr. Somers Point, NJ/Mainland Reg.) touched home one time.

The Knights gained an early 2-0 lead in the opening inning. McLaughlin walked and stole second before advancing to third on Schoelkopf's base hit. MacNair followed with an infield single and McLaughlin scored. After a sacrifice bunt, Schoelkopf came home on Pedorenko's groundout.

Rowan evened the score in the second. Harrold was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame then scored on a double by Strickland. Strickland moved to third on a groundout before coming home on Golla's sac fly. The Profs produced the decisive run in the fifth. Provost doubled down the left field line with two outs. Shane then singled down the line in left and Provost raced home.

The baseball team begins conference play with a doubleheader at Ramapo College on Saturday, March 31 at 11:30 a.m.