EWING, N.J. – The TCNJ baseball team built an early lead against No. 17 Rowan on Friday afternoon at George Ackerman Park, but the Profs came back to earn a 10-5 victory after scoring seven times in their final three at-bats. Chris Reeder and Joe Oczkowski each had two hits to pace the TCNJ offense.
 
After a leadoff home run for Rowan in the first, the Lions came back to score twice in the second and three more times in the third. Avery Epstein tripled after two outs in the second, and Oczkowski brought him home with an RBI single to center. Michael Schumacher followed with a double to center to score Oczkowski for a 2-1 TCNJ lead.
 
The Lions added on in the third, again after two outs. Ryan Goodall singled home Jack Haynes to make it 3-1. Reeder later scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-1. With Goodall at third and Epstein at first after a walk, the Lions ran Epstein. The intended effect worked, as Goodall sprinted home ahead of the throw for a 5-1 TCNJ advantage.
 
Rowan chipped away with runs in the fourth and fifth to make it 5-3, and another single run in the seventh made it 5-4. The lead swung back to Rowan in the eighth with a two-out, two-run double down the third base line. Now ahead, 6-5, Rowan capped the scoring with a grand slam in the top of the ninth.
 
SATURDAY SCHEDULE UPDATE
The team's Saturday doubleheader against William Paterson has been moved to Rider University's Sonny Pittaro Field. The NJAC doubleheader will still begin at 11:30 a.m.
 
The move was made to accommodate commencement ceremonies in Lions Stadium, adjacent to George Ackerman Park. TCNJ is honoring its Class of 2020 after last spring's COVID cancellation.
 
Due to varying COVID-related policies at different institutions, no spectators will be allowed into the doubleheader.
 
TCNJ Athletics is planning to webcast both games of the doubleheader, and the link can be found on the baseball team's schedule page or by clicking here.