New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score GLASSBORO, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Nationally No. 11/14 ranked Rowan University scored four runs in the third inning to gain a 4-1 advantage before putting the game away with seven in the fifth as the Profs defeated New Jersey City University, 16-1, in the opening game of a New Jersey Athletic Conference baseball home-and-home series on April 17.
 
First-place Rowan won its sixth consecutive game to improve to 21-6 and 8-3 in the NJAC. NJCU (9-16, 3-8 NJAC) dropped its fourth straight. The Profs entered the contest ranked No. 11 by D3baseball.com and 14^th in the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Division III Top 30 poll.
 
In defeat, sophomore catcher ANDREW NIECH (Avenel, NJ/Colonia), junior center fielder MICHAEL MARTUCCI (Bayonne, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep) and sophomore first baseman/right fielder ALEX WEINSTEIN (Colonia, NJ/JFK-Iselin) each collected two hits. Junior designated hitter/first baseman PAT SHELDRICK (Ocean Gate, NJ/Central Regional) drew three walks. Freshman right fielder JOE COUTINHO (Colonia, NJ/Colonia) drove in the lone run for NJCU in the top of the second inning for a 1-0 lead.
 
Rowan collected 18 hits in the win, led by junior shortstop Ryan Williams who finished a stellar 5-for-5 with three RBIs, three runs and a triple. Junior third/first baseman Kevin McMenamin was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, two runs, a walk and a two-run homerun in the fifth inning.
 
Also for the Profs in a game in which six players had multiple hits, junior right fielder Kevin Pavlik was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and one run and senior Mark Benak finished 2-for-6 with two RBIs, two runs and a double. Junior designated hitter Rich Powelson and senior catcher Connor Grant each had two hits and two runs scored. Senior center fielder Eric Perez knocked in two runs.
 
Junior right-hander MATTHEW WAGNER (Colonia, NJ/Colonia), normally a starting outfielder, had entered the day 1-0 with just two earned runs against, eight strikeouts, one walk and a 1.20 ERA in his first two collegiate starts on the mound over 15.0 innings. The first of four pitchers used for NJCU, Wagner couldn't shut down the potent Rowan offense which leads the league in nearly every major offensive category including a .340 batting average (next team is at .314).
 
Wagner took the loss, allowing 10 runs and nine hits in 4.1 innings with three walks and one strikeout. Freshman MARK PETRUCELLI (Wood-Ridge, NJ/Queen of Peace), freshman righty DANIEL PEREZ (North Bergen, NJ/Hudson Catholic) and junior righty NICHOLAS D'ERRICO (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) all went to the hill in relief. Perez faced seven batters, allowing two runs and four hits in 1.0 innings in his collegiate debut.
 
Sophomore righty Andrew Lysy went the first 4.2 innings, giving up a run and five hits with three walks and a strikeout in a no decision. Sophomore righty Richie Suarez won it in relief (3-0), allowing just two hits with a strikeout and walk in 2.1 innings. Junior righty Tyler Bayley and senior righty Nick Henderson each threw a scoreless inning of relief; Henderson struck out two of the three batters he faced.
 
The two teams will complete the series on Friday, April 18 at 3:30 p.m. at NJCU's Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex in Jersey City, NJ.