GLASSBORO, N.J.- The TCNJ baseball team dropped a road NJAC matchup on Friday to No. 20 Rowan University by a score of 1-0. Starting Pitcher Dan Merkel was terrific on the day for the Lions (18-11, 6-6), but the bats couldn't get the equalizer across as the starter for the Profs (19-9, 6-6) threw a complete game shutout.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The lone run of the game came across in the second for the Profs on a squeeze play to bunt the runner in from third.
• In the bottom half of the third, the Lions turned a triple play on a ground ball to Andrew Fernandez at third who stepped on the bag and threw to Mike LaGravenis at second then to Zach Hochheiser at first to end the third.
• Merkel didn't find himself in another jam until the eighth inning where Rowan had the bases loaded with two outs. A huge strikeout on a full count brought the Lions back in for last licks.
• The best two chances for TCNJ came in the seventh and the ninth inning as they had two on and one out in each of those situations. The Profs held on in both of those chances and ultimately took the game 1-0.

 
STANDOUT LIONS:

• SP Dan Merkel: 8.0 IP, 6H, 1ER, 3BB, 5K, 3HBP
• 3B Andrew Fernandez: 2-for-4

 
UP NEXT:

• TCNJ baseball will turn in around and try to take two from another ranked opponent as (RV) Kean University comes to George Ackerman Park for the Senior Day doubleheader starting at 11:30 AM.