GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University baseball team picked up a 3-1 victory over visiting Salisbury University in a battle of ranked teams on Monday afternoon.
Right-hander Justin Smith (jr. Atco, NJ/Hammonton) hurled seven innings of one-run ball. He (1-2) allowed just four hits and struck out seven. Righty Dan Corvo (fr. River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley) pitched a perfect ninth with two strikeouts for his fourth save of the year. Right-hander Connor Reeves (sr. Bel Air, MD/John Carroll) surrendered three unearned runs and six hits in the loss (10-3).
The Profs (26-6) are second in the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Poll and seventh in the D3baseball.com Top 25. The Sea Gulls (25-10) are ranked 19th by D3baseball.com and 27th by the ABCA.
First baseman Anthony Harrold (jr. Woodbury, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) led Rowan at the plate with two hits (four at bats), one double and one run scored. Left fielder Monny Strickland (sr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) and third baseman Justin Provost (fr. Hackettstown, NJ/Pope John XXIII) drove in one run apiece. Right fielder Nick Schooley (fr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) and second baseman Alex Kokos (so. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) each scored one time.
Third baseman Jack Barry (jr. Laurel, MD/Reservoir), shortstop Scott Ardoin (sr. Germantown, MD/Northwest), second baseman Will Gutekunst (jr. East Northport, NY/St. Anthony's), catcher Matt Padeway (so. Fairfax, VA/Chantilly) and pinch hitter Troy Miller (so. Howell, NJ/Howell) tallied one hit apiece for Salisbury. Padeway registered a double while Gutekunst had a triple and one run. First baseman Jay Perry (jr. Elkton, MD/St. Mark's) knocked in one run.
It was a pitcher's duel through the first five innings before the Profs broke through for two runs in the sixth. Kokos reached on an error with one out and Harrold doubled to put runners at second and third. Strickland followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Kokos. Harrold advanced to third on the play before scoring on Provost's base hit to left. Rowan added a run in the seventh. Schooley posted a single with one away. He moved to second on a single, advanced to third on a fielder's choice and came home on a miscue.
Gutekunst led off the eighth inning with a triple to right center. Perry then hit a sac fly to left field and Gutekunst touched home for the Sea Gulls' lone run. Salisbury later loaded the bases in the frame but righty Zach Listro (so. Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway Reg.) induced a ground ball to end the inning and keep it a two-run game.
The Profs travel to Penn State Abington for their final non-conference contest on Tuesday, April 24 at 3:30 p.m.