EWING, N.J. – Thanks in large part to yet another high-scoring offensive display, the TCNJ baseball team powered to an upset win over No. 6 Rowan at home.
For the third game in a row, the Lions (14-18, 4-8 NJAC) put up double-digit runs against their opposition. This time, TCNJ was able to limit the Profs (23-4, 10-2 NJAC) to single digits and bring Rowan's six-game winning streak to a halt. This win was also the first time TCNJ had defeated Rowan in Ewing since 2018.
TCNJ's freshman reliever
Austin Hanni played a key role in the upset win. He pitched the last four and two-thirds while allowing just three hits and one run, earning the win and improving his season and career record to 4-0. Offensively, the Lions were led by
Michael Contiliano, who went 3-for-5 at the dish while racking up three RBIs.
Brian Lovaglio,
Andrew Pearson, and
Braden Dromboski each logged two hits, with Dromboski accounting for four RBIs himself. Today marked his third straight game with at least three RBIs, and his weekly total now stands at 13. Pearson also logged his third straight game with at least two hits, and put in a spectacular performance at first base which prevented several baserunners.
TCNJ scored the first three runs of the contest, loading the bases in the top of the first inning. With the bases full, Lovaglio drove in a run with a single, after which
Jake Carter scored one more with yet another sacrifice fly.
Chris Salmon then contributed with an RBI single himself to make it 3-0 at the end of the first. Rowan would battle back, however, scoring four in the top of the third. And after the two teams traded runs in the middle innings, TCNJ faced a 6-7 deficit going into what would prove to be the decisive seventh inning.
In the seventh, the Lions put up six runs earn a come-from-behind upset win. TCNJ had runners on first and second after
Tyler Provost's leadoff single and a Carter walk. Dromboski then scored both of them with a double which sailed over the center fielder's head, thus taking an 8-7 lead for his team.
Andrew Pearson followed up and added one more with an RBI single.
After that,
Nate McLaughlin reached with a single, and
Jack O'Donnell walked to load the bases once again. Contiliano then stepped up and, on the second pitch of the at-bat, roped a ball into the right field corner which resulted in a bases-clearing triple and a 12-7 lead for the Lions. And by scoring on the play, O'Donnell logged his 100
th career run. The Profs got a run back in the eighth and loaded the bases, but Hanni was able to get out of the jam and finished the game with a 1-2-3 ninth frame.
STANDOUT LIONS:
- Hanni: 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 HA, 2 Ks
- Contiliano: 3-5, 3 RBI, 2 R, 1 3B
- Dromboski: 2-4, 4 RBI, 1 R
UP NEXT
- TCNJ finishes off their busy week on Saturday, April 18, with a home doubleheader against New Jersey City
