UNION, NJ – The Rowan University baseball team swept a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) doubleheader at Kean University, 2-1 and 3-2, on Saturday.
The Profs (25-5, NJAC 9-4) have won six in a row. They are ranked second in the American Baseball Coaches Association Poll and seventh in the D3baseball.com Top 25. The Cougars have a 17-18 record with an 8-6 conference mark.
Second baseman Alex Kokos (so. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) recorded three hits with one double over the two contests. Center fielder Kyle Golla (sr. Palm Coast, FL/Allentown (NJ)) posted two hits, one double, one triple, two RBIs and one run. Shortstop Dillon Mendel (jr. Sparta, NJ/Sparta) had two hits and scored one time. Right fielder Nick Schooley (fr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee), first baseman Anthony Harrold (jr. Woodbury, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) and designated hitter Dan Shane (jr. Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) each drove in one run.
Third baseman Justin Provost (fr. Hackettstown, NJ/Pope John XXIII), catcher Zach Leach (so. Long Valley, NJ/Pope John XXIII) and Shane touched the plate one time apiece. Left fielder Monny Strickland (sr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.), Provost and Leach each registered a double.
Kean right fielder Nick Polizzano (so. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) and first baseman Matt Krupa (sr. Mahwah, NJ/Mahwah) totaled three hits apiece. Polizzano added two doubles and one run while Krupa hit a double. Center fielder Zach Joe (fr. Woodbridge, NJ/Woodbridge) notched two hits, one triple, one RBI and one run. Designated hitter Frank LoGiudice (so. Edison, NJ/John P. Stevens) produced a double and one RBI. Shortstop Brandon Johannesson (fr. Roxbury, NJ/Morris Catholic) hit a double and catcher Brian Cole (jr. Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) scored one time.
Right-hander Andrew Cartier (jr. Estell Manor, NJ/Buena Reg.) tossed seven innings of one-run ball for the win in the opener (3-1). He surrendered five hits and struck out five. Righty Jordan Friedman (sr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill E.) pitched the ninth for his third save. Left-hander Christopher Rossi (jr. Branchburg, NJ/Somerville) took the loss (2-2). He allowed two runs and six hits while striking out five in 7.2 innings.
Shane began the game with a walk and stole second. He swiped third with two outs and came home on Harrold's single to right. The Cougars tied the score in the sixth. Polizzano walked with one out and LoGiudice knocked him in with a double to left center. The Profs posted the go-ahead run in the eighth. Leach led off with a double down the left field line and went to third on a groundout. Shane's sacrifice fly plated Leach.
In the ninth, Kean put runners on first and third with no outs. Friedman induced a ground ball to Mendel, who threw the runner out at home to maintain the lead. After a wild pitch, the Cougars had runners at second and third. Friedman registered a strikeout and a fly out to finish off the victory.
Lefty Drew Ryback (so. Mantua, NJ/Clearview Reg.) earned the win in the nightcap to move to 6-0. He went seven innings and conceded two runs on five hits while striking out five. Right-hander Dan Corvo (fr. River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley) picked up his third save. Righty Justin Diefenbach (fr. Barnegat, NJ/Barnegat) pitched eight innings in the loss (2-3). He allowed three runs on seven hits and fanned three batters.
Rowan broke through for two runs in the fifth inning. Provost led off with a double and advanced to third on a balk. Golla doubled down the line in left and Provost scored. Golla came home on Schooley's base hit to center. The Profs went ahead 3-0 in the sixth. Mendel had a single and touched the plate on Golla's triple to left field. Kean cut the deficit to 3-2 in the eighth. Cole had a leadoff single and Joe smacked a RBI triple down the right field line. Joe later scored on an error. The Cougars got the tying run in scoring position in the ninth but Corvo retired three straight batters to seal the win.
The Profs travel to The College of New Jersey on Sunday, April 22 for a 1 p.m. game.