Union, N.J. (4/3/21) - #18 Rowan University swept the #25 Kean University baseball team by the finals of 13-2 and 4-2 on Saturday afternoon in the NJAC opener for both.
Game One – Rowan 13, Kean 2
After trading single runs in the early going, the Profs (4-2, 2-0 NJAC) exploded for 11 runs over two innings to pull away. Rowan scratched across the go-ahead run on a single up the middle by Michael Manganella. Later in the inning with two outs, Nick Schooley cleared the bases with a double as Rowan led 7-1 after four.
The Profs added six more in the top of the fifth, aided by a bases loaded error that scored three.Â
Drew Ryback (2-0) tossed a complete game allowing just one earned run (a solo homer to Phil Marcantonio, his fourth of the season). Ryback struck out nine, walked no one and scattered seven hits.
Game Two – Rowan 4, Kean 2
The Profs got all the runs they would need in the top of the second as Ryan Murphy led off with a double. Manganella walked, sandwiched around two strike outs to put runners on first and second. Jared Marks pushed across the first run with a single and Ryan Mostrangeli added two more with a single. A bases loaded walk to Alex Kokos rounded out the scoring for Rowan.
Kean got one back in the bottom of the same inning after Marcantonio scored on an error after reaching on a leadoff double.
Eric Atiya (1-1) earned the win after tossing seven innings allowing no earned runs with five strikeouts and no walks. Zack Listro recorded the save with one and a third innings of shutout ball. Not to be lost was the relief performance of Justin Diefenbach. He threw seven and a third innings of hitless, shutout ball.
Marcantonio was 3-for-3 while Philip Mahlik was 3-for-5 in the loss.
Kean returns to action on Thursday when they host Stockton University.
