NEW PALTZ, NY – SUNY New Paltz tallied one run in the ninth and had the tying run on base but the Rowan University baseball team earned a 5-4 win over the host Hawks on Tuesday.
The Profs improve to 19-4 overall while SUNY New Paltz has a 9-11 record. Rowan is ranked third in this week's American Baseball Coaches Association Poll and seventh in the D3baseball.com Top 25.
Left fielder Monny Strickland (sr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) paced the Profs with two hits (five at bats), two RBIs and one run. First baseman Anthony Harrold (jr. Woodbury, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) posted a double, two RBIs and one run. Designated hitter Justin Provost (fr. Hackettstown, NJ/Pope John XXIII) drove in one run. Center fielder Dan Shane (jr. Perkasie, PA/Pennridge), third baseman Nick Schooley (fr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) and catcher Zach Leach (so. Long Valley, NJ/Pope John XXIII) each crossed the plate one time. Right fielder Frank McHugh (jr. Kingwood, NJ/Delaware Valley Reg.) added a double.
Right-hander Victor Lebron (jr. Blackwood, NJ/Highland Reg.) earned the win in relief. He (1-0) threw three shutout innings and allowed just one hit. Lebron recorded two strikeouts. Righty Dan Corvo (fr. River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley) registered the final out for his first save. Right-handed pitcher Conor Donachie (sr. Garden City, NY/Chaminade) took the loss (1-4).
Hawks' center fielder Nick DePietro (sr. Carmel, NY/Carmel) went two-for-three with two runs scored. Right fielder Brian Brenton (sr. Calverton, NY/Riverhead) totaled two hits (four at bats) and one RBI. Second baseman Anthony Pantano (sr. Farmingdale, NY/Farmingdale) and third baseman Jake Williams (sr. Seaford, NY/Seaford) each knocked in one run. Pantano also hit a double and scored one time. Left fielder Julian Francisco (so. Bedford Hills, NY/Fox Lane) touched the plate once.
Rowan put up four runs in the third. Leach led off with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Shane and Schooley walked to load the bases. Harrold followed with a two-run double to right field and Strickland plated another two runs with a base hit to left. SUNY New Paltz produced two runs in the bottom of the frame. Francisco started the inning with a walk and advanced to second on an error. Pantano brought home Francisco with a double to left center. Pantano went to third on a fly out and came home on a groundout.
The Hawks cut the deficit to one (4-3) in the fourth. DePietro walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. After advancing to third on a sacrifice, DePietro trotted home on a fly out. The Profs added their final run in the seventh. Strickland reached on a fielder's choice and there were two outs. Shortstop/third baseman Dillon Mendel (jr. Sparta, NJ/Sparta) singled to put runners on the corners. Provost drove in Strickland with a base hit to left. DePietro started the bottom of the ninth with a single through the left side. He stole second then raced home on a base hit by Brenton. Right-hander Zach Listro (so. Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway Reg.) recorded a strikeout then Corvo came in and induced a groundout to end the contest.
Rowan resumes its conference schedule versus Rutgers-Camden on Thursday, April 12 at 3:30 p.m.