GALLOWAY, NJ – The Rowan University baseball team tallied four runs in the first inning and that was all it needed in an 11-3 victory at Stockton University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Thursday.
The Profs improve to 16-2 overall and 2-1 in the conference. They are ranked first in the American Baseball Coaches Association rankings and second by D3baseball.com. The Ospreys drop to 3-12 with a 0-3 NJAC mark.
Rowan produced 19 hits. Third baseman Justin Provost (fr. Hackettstown, NJ/Pope John XXIII) was four-for-five with a home run and three RBIs. Left fielder Monny Strickland (sr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) went three-for-six with a double, one RBI and two runs. Second baseman Alex Kokos (so. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) recorded a double, four RBIs and one run. Catcher Steven Hewa (jr. Galloway, NJ/Absegami) tallied three hits (five at bats) and scored twice. Center fielder Dan Shane (jr. Perkasie, PA/Pennridge), first baseman Dillon Mendel (jr. Sparta, NJ/Sparta) and right fielder Kyle Golla (sr. Palm Coast, FL/Allentown (NJ)) each hit a double.
Right-hander Jeremy Dyzenhaus (so. Morganville, NJ/Marlboro) was credited with the win in relief. He (1-0) pitched 1.1 innings and did not allow a hit. Righty Brandon Perna (sr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill W.) suffered the loss (0-5).
Stockton catcher Garrhet Reedy (so. Tinton Falls, NJ/Monmouth) was three-for-three with a run scored. Third baseman JJ Swentkowski (jr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) drove in two runs and first baseman John Perrino (fr. Wall, NJ/Wall) had one RBI. Second baseman Mike DeSenzo (so. Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) and center fielder Rico Viani (so. Monroe Twp., NJ/Monroe Twp.) each scored one time.
Shane doubled down the left field line to begin the contest. Designated hitter Shawn Leydon (sr. Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) followed with a single through the right side to score Shane. Kokos and Strickland hit back-to-back RBI doubles to make the score 3-0. Provost sent a base hit up the middle and Strickland came around to score.
The score remained 4-0 until the fifth. Strickland singled to left and went to third on Mendel's double. Golla recorded a sac fly to plate Strickland for a 5-0 advantage. The Ospreys broke through for three runs in the bottom of the frame. DeSenzo walked and stole second. Viani's infield single put runners on the corners. Perrino's sac fly scored DeSenzo. Reedy had a base knock before Swentkowski produced a two-run single to left center.
Hewa began the sixth with a single and scored on Kokos' sacrifice fly (6-3). Provost blasted a two-run homer to left in the seventh and the Profs were ahead 8-3. Rowan added three more runs in the ninth. Hewa touched the plate on Shane's base hit to left and Kokos' double down the line in right brought home a pair of runs.
Rowan and Stockton square off again in Glassboro on Friday, April 6 at 3:30 p.m.