YORK, PA – The Rowan University baseball team shut out Castleton University, 9-0 to begin the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional on Thursday.

The top-seeded Profs (34-9) advance to play the fifth seed Misericordia University (32-12) on Friday, May 18 at 4:30 p.m. The Cougars were 4-1 victors over fourth-seeded Virginia Wesleyan University on Thursday. The Spartans (30-11) face Virginia Wesleyan in an elimination game on Friday at 10 a.m.

Left-hander Drew Ryback (so. Mantua, NJ/Clearview Reg.) tossed seven scoreless innings for the win (8-1). He allowed just three hits and struck out six. Righty Joe Gratton (jr. Pittsfield, MA/Pittsfield) suffered the loss (8-3).

Shortstop Dillon Mendel (jr. Sparta, NJ/Sparta) led Rowan at the plate with two hits (five at bats), one double, three RBIs and one run. Catcher Steven Hewa (jr. Galloway, NJ/Absegami) recorded a pair of hits and scored one time. Right fielder Kyle Golla (sr. Palm Coast, FL/Allentown (NJ)) tallied two RBIs and two runs. Designated hitter Shawn Leydon (sr. Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) and third baseman Justin Provost (fr. Hackettstown, NJ/Pope John XXIII) each registered one RBI and one run. Left fielder Monny Strickland (sr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.), pinch hitter Frankie Aiello (so. Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) and center fielder Dan Shane (jr. Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) crossed the plate one time apiece. Aiello added a double.

Castleton right fielder Dillon Benham (jr. Lenox, MA/Lenox Mem.) produced two hits. First baseman Davis Mikell (so. Williston, VT/Champlain Valley Union) and designated hitter Pat Mumford (jr. Fairbanks, AK/Mill River) had one hit apiece with Mikell's being a double.

The Profs got on the board in the opening inning. Mendel led off with a single and eventually scored on a groundout by Leydon. Rowan broke the game open with five runs in the fourth. Leydon began the frame with a single to right. Golla walked and Hewa followed with a bunt single with Leydon scoring on an error. Provost's base hit brought Golla home to make the score 3-0. Mendel came up and laced a three-run double down the left field line and the Profs led 6-0.

Rowan added two more runs in the fifth. Strickland reached on an error to start the inning and came home on Golla's single. Golla later scored on another miscue. The Profs posted one run in the seventh. Aiello hit a leadoff double down the right field line. He advanced to third on a wild pitch and touched the plate on Golla's sacrifice fly.

The NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional schedule is below.

Thursday, May 17 (Games 1 and 2 played at PeoplesBank Park; Games 3 and 4 played at Harford Community College)

Game 1: #5 Misericordia 4, #4 Virginia Wesleyan 1

Game 2: #1 Rowan 9, #8 Castleton 0

Game 3: #6 Union 10, #3 Arcadia 3

Game 4: #2 Babson 12, #7 Catholic 11

Friday, May 18

Game 5: #4 Virginia Wesleyan vs. #8 Castleton, 10 a.m.

Game 6: #3 Arcadia vs. #7 Catholic, 1:15 p.m.

Game 7: #5 Misericordia vs. #1 Rowan, 4:30 p.m.

Game 8: #6 Union vs. #2 Babson, 7:45 p.m.

Saturday, May 19

Game 9: winner game 6 vs. loser game 7, 10 a.m.

Game 10: winner game 5 vs. loser game 8, 1:15 p.m.

Game 11: winner game 7 vs. winner game 8, 4:30 p.m.

Game 12: winner game 9 vs. winner game 10, 7:45 p.m.

Sunday, May 20

Game 13: winner game 12 vs. loser game 11, noon

Game 14: winner game 11 vs. winner game 13, 3:30 p.m.

Monday, May 21

Game 15: same teams as game 14 (if necessary), 11 a.m.