Galloway, NJ – Stockton University (16-21-1, 6-10 NJAC) could not overcome an early deficit, and dropped a 16-7 decision to Rowan University (28-6, 14-2 NJAC) on Friday afternoon. Freshman Jordan Nitti (Hamilton/Steinert) and sophomore Sam Nieves (South Plainfield/South Plainfield) led the Ospreys with three hits each. The Profs are ranked #7 nationally in the latest D3baseball.com/NCBWA poll.

The Profs scored early and often to begin the game, plating twelve runs in the first six innings before Stockton got on the scoreboard. The Ospreys scored four times in the bottom of the seventh inning to slice the lead to 12-4.

Three straight singles by Nieves, Frank Bellezza (Avon/St. Rose) and Ryan Mihlebach (Clarksboro/GCIT) scored the first run. Giovanni Sciarrotta (Barnegat/Steinert) drove in the second tally, then Nitti plated two more with a double.

After the visitors tallied one more run in the top of the eighth, the Ospreys scored three more times in the bottom stanza, as they loaded the bases on three straight walks. Tommy Talbot ((Howell/Howell) also walked forcing in a run. Sciarrotta hit a sacrifice fly, followed by another Nitti RBI and the lead was sliced to 13-7.

Rowan put the game away with three more markers in the last inning, to set the final score at 16-7.

Nitti had three RBI, with Nieves, Bellezza and Mihlebach scoring twice each. Jeremy Ruka (Cranford/Cranford) tossed a career-high four innings with Jason Horowitz (Wall/Wall) tossing two more in relief. The pair had two strikeouts each.

For the Profs, Chris Curcio and Anthony Schooley had three hits each, with Schooley knocking in three runs. Tyler Cannon had a home run for Rowan.

Stockton will finish the regular season with a doubleheader against Rutgers-Newark in Newark tomorrow. Game times are scheduled for 11:30 am and 2:30 pm.