Ewing, NJ … The College of New Jersey baseball team was edged by Rowan University, 5-4 on Friday afternoon in George Ackerman Park.

The 11th-ranked Lions battled back from a 5-2 deficit, but came up a run shy to fall to 22-7 on the season. The loss snapped an impressive eight-game winning streak and was the first home loss of the season. The Profs improved to 23-11 and 7-5 in New Jersey Athletic Conference play.

Rowan jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second. Michael Decker belted a two-double to left-center to score Joe Sadler, who had singled.

The Lions plated a pair of runs in the third with some offensive firepower from their three and four spots in the line-up. Zachary Shindler (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) drilled a double to right-center to score Danny Borup (Plainsboro, NJ/West Windsor South) and knot the game at one. CJ Gearhart (Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville) then drove a pitch to the opposite field that beat the right fielder down the line. He hustled into third with a triple and TCNJ held a 2-1 lead.

The Profs put pressure on Lions' starter Michael Walley (Yardley, PA/Notre Dame) in the fourth. With runners on second and third and two out, Matt Edwards lifted a shallow pop fly to short right-center. Freshman Thomas Persichetti (Hamilton, NJ/Notre Dame) came charging in from center field and laid out, making a tremendous catch to save two runs.

With the score still 2-1 in the fifth, Prof center fielder Frankie Aiello cracked a solo home run to left field. A sacrifice fly later in the inning game Rowan a 3-2 advantage. In the seventh, they extended their lead to 5-2. A two-out, two-run single to right field by Steven Hewa gave Prof starter Brad Machinski some cushion.

Down by three in the bottom of the frame, Shindler singled with one out and moved to third on an infield error. Austin Lindsay (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) lofted a sacrifice fly to right center to cut the deficit to two.

TCNJ scratched out another run in the eighth. Jacob Simon (Hightstown, NJ/Hightstown) drew a free pass to lead off the eighth. With one out, Varone executed a perfect hit-and-run, sending the ball through the right side. Simon trucked all the way to third on the hit. Varone stole second to put runners and second and third, and Simon slid in safely on a wild pitch on a close play at the plate.

Brad Machinski had a solid day on the mound, holding the Lions to three earned runs over seven-plus innings. Rob Grilli took over in the ninth and retired the side in order for his third save of the season.

Shindler and Simon each had three hits in the game and Gearhart finished 2-for-5.

The Lions will be back at it tomorrow, facing New Jersey City University for a twin bill beginning at 11:30 a.m.