EWING, N.J.- The TCNJ baseball team lost a shootout to No. 17 ranked Rowan University on Thursday by a score of 14-11.
 
The profs struck first in the top of the first coming off a two-run homerun homer over the fence in left center field. Along with that, they had two other hits on the inning to take an early 2-0 lead.
 
TCNJ answered immediately in the bottom of the first, scoring four runs on two hits and one error. A Jack Felipe single brought around Justin Marcario to score the first run for the Lions. Just two batters later, Sebastian JnoBaptiste sent a missile soaring over the left field fence to put the lions ahead 4-2 after one.
 
In the second, the Lions tacked another to bring their lead to three, scoring one run on a Ryan Goodall double down the left field line. This scored Zach Weiner who started the inning off with a hit-by-pitch and gave the Lions a 5-2 lead.
 
In the top half of the third, Rowan's offense exploded for ten runs on seven hits and two errors to take back the lead by a score of 12-5.
 
Both teams went scoreless in the fourth, giving the Lions a chance to get back into the game in the fifth. They did just that, scoring three runs on two hits to cut the Rowan lead to just four. Justin Marcario started the inning off by extending his hitting streak to 11 games with a single to right. After two walks and one out, Michael Doran hit a two-run double over the center fielder's head which scored Marcairio and Goodall. A JnoBaptiste grounder to second scored Felipe.
 
The Lions cut into the lead a little more in in the sixth, scoring one run on one hit and an error to bring the score to 12-9. A Marcario single would scurry past the center fielder and roll far enough for Jack O'Donnell to score all the way from first base.
 
The Profs answered back with a run of their own in the top half of the seventh on one hit and an error to take the advantage back to four runs. In the eighth, they tacked on one more to bring their lead to 14-9.
 
TCNJ showed signs of life in the bottom of the ninth, scoring two runs on one hit. The first run was walked in to score pinch runner Jason Wasko. Weiner followed this with an RBI single through the left side, scoring Doran. Unfortunately, Rowan played some stellar defense in the ninth, robbing a line drive and then a nice double play to close out the game.
 
Doran and Marcario led the team in hits on the day, both with a pair each while JnoBaptiste led the team in RBIs with four.
 
TCNJ baseball will head to Glassboro on Friday, April 14^th to take on the Profs of Rowan once again with the action starting at 3:30 PM.