GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University baseball team split a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) doubleheader with visiting Montclair State University on Saturday. The Red Hawks took the first contest, 1-0 and the Profs recovered to win the nightcap, 6-2.

Rowan is 17-4 overall and 3-3 in the conference. It is ranked first in the American Baseball Coaches Association Poll and second in the D3baseball.com Top 25. Montclair State has a 15-8 record with a 4-2 NJAC mark.

Right-hander Andrew DiPiazza (jr. Bayville, NJ/Central Reg.) tossed seven innings for the win in game two. He (4-0) allowed just one unearned run and three hits while striking out eight. Lefty Nick Cocchia (fr. Mountainside, NJ/Governor Livingston) took the loss (2-1).

Center fielder Dan Shane (jr. Perkasie, PA/Pennridge), left fielder Monny Strickland (sr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.), shortstop Dillon Mendel (jr. Sparta, NJ/Sparta), third baseman Justin Provost (fr. Hackettstown, NJ/Pope John XXIII) and designated hitter Frank Rose (so. Bayville, NJ/Central Reg.) each recorded two hits (four at bats). Provost had a double and one RBI. Catcher Zach Leach (so. Long Valley, NJ/Pope John XXIII) drove in two runs while first baseman Anthony Harrold (jr. Woodbury, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) and Mendel knocked in one run apiece. Mendel and Shane each scored twice while Harrold and Strickland crossed the plate one time apiece.

Third baseman Joe Norton (so. Cranford, NJ/Cranford), first baseman Ian Lynch (jr. Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston), second baseman/shortstop Justin Epifanio (jr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.), catcher Justin Bates (so. Brick, NJ/Brick Mem.) and shortstop Hayden Reyes (so. Cranbury, NJ/Princeton) each tallied one hit for the Red Hawks. Pinch hitter Dom Lampasona (jr. Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) and Norton scored the Montclair State runs.

The Red Hawks posted one run in the opening inning. Norton singled to right, stole second, advanced to third on an error and came home on a wild pitch. The Profs evened the score in the second. Mendel led off with a base hit through the left side, went to third on Provost's double and scored on a fielder's choice.

Rowan took the lead with four runs in the third. Shane began the frame with a walk and stole second. Harrold plated Shane with a single. Strickland had a base hit to left. Mendel and Provost registered back-to-back RBI singles. Leach had a sacrifice fly to right to bring home Mendel. The Profs' final run came in the fourth when Shane touched the plate on an error. Lampasona raced home on a wild pitch in the ninth to make the score 6-2.

Montclair State lefty Brian Reiss (so. Watchung, NJ/Watchung Hills) hurled a complete game shutout in the first game. He (3-0) gave up just three hits and fanned four batters. Right-handers Danny Serreino (jr. Jackson, NJ/Jackson Mem.) and Jordan Friedman (sr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill W.) pitched eight and one innings respectively and did not concede a hit. Serreino allowed one unearned run with 13 strikeouts in the loss (2-2).

The only run of the contest came in the second inning. Lynch reached first on a wild pitch then stole second. Bates walked with two outs to put runners at first and second. Reyes reached on an error and Lynch came around to score. Second baseman Alex Kokos (so. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley), left fielder Frankie Aiello (so. Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) and catcher Steven Hewa (jr. Galloway, NJ/Absegami) produced hits for Rowan.

The baseball team takes a break from its conference schedule to play at Moravian College on Monday, April 9 at 4 p.m.