Glassboro, NJ … The College of New Jersey dropped a 4-2 decision to Rowan University in New Jersey Athletic Conference play on Thursday afternoon.
 
The Profs (26-11, 10-5 NJAC) scored in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings to overcome a 2-0 deficit and maintain a hold on second place in the conference standings. The Lions (17-17, 8-7) remained tied with Richard Stockton College as they fell to Kean University 9-2.
 
The pitching combination of Ryan Easterday and Steven Melchiorre limited TCNJ to six hits, but Rowan only managed four hits in the game off Lions' starter Robert Schneider (Township of Washington, NJ/Westwood) and reliever Joseph DiLorenzo (West Orange, NJ/Seton Hall Prep).
 
Schneider pitched well, surrendering just three hits over seven and one-third innings. With the score tied 2-2 in the seventh, three errors by the Lions led to the go-ahead run. A solo home run off the bat of Kevin McMenamin in the eighth provided the Profs with an insurance entering the ninth inning.
 
TCNJ jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Senior Scott Kelly (West Windsor, NJ/West Windsor-North) opened the game with a single to left field. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and after shortstop Anthony Cocuzza (Absecon, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) singled, came home on sacrifice fly by sophomore Josh Limon (Eastampton, NJ/Rancocas Valley).
 
The Lions manufactured a second run in the fifth. Junior Joe Dispoto (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) walked an eventually scored on an infield error. Later in the inning, Cocuzza attempted to score from second on a base hit from Michael Murphy (Staten Island, NY/Staten Island Tech), but he was thrown out at the plate for the third out of the inning.
 
The base hit to left was the 199^th career hit for Murphy.
 
Two runs in the sixth by Rowan tied the game and they pieced together single runs in the seventh and eighth to secure the home victory. Melchiorre was credited with the win in relief. McMenamin had three hits in the game.
 
TCNJ will look to turn the tables when they return home tomorrow (Friday) to host Rowan at George Ackerman Park at 3:30 p.m. It will be the final regular season home game for six graduating seniors.