Sunday’s doubleheader was a home run derby against Vermont State Castleton, as the Profs swept the day, 7-3, and, 14-3, respectively to activate the mercy rule in Game 2. Nationally ranked Rowan Baseball went yard six times at Diamond Nation in Flemington, New Jersey, to start the year with a 3-0 record after numerous game cancellations and postponements delayed their season’s start.
“We’ve got a whole new club this year, so trying to get them acclimated to the way we want them to play, it takes time,” head coach Mike Dickson said. “It’s only our second time on a baseball field in three months so good to get out here and get them going.”
Junior third baseman Brayden Davis built off of his walk-off performance in the season opener, hitting 7-for-8 and a team-high 4 RBIs across both games . Davis begins his 2026 campaign in dominant fashion, already hitting three home runs, which is nearly half his total a year ago.
“We work on it every day, sticking to the approach,” Davis said. “This year, I am really worried about, you know, working the counts, getting my pitching, putting a good swing on it when I get it.”
Rowan garnered solid pitching performances across the doubleheader. University of Connecticut transfer Ben Schild allowed just five hits and two earned runs in his first four innings of Game 1. In Game 2, Sophomore Austin Kreyenhagen struck out seven Spartans.
“Ben didn’t have his greatest command early on,” Dickson said. “He settled in there in the fourth and fifth and was able to get some strikeouts and get us to the bullpen, and Brasberger did a really good job out of the pen, and then AK [Kreyenhagen] does what AK does.”
Of all the players wearing brown and gold pinstripes, it was freshman infielder Kyle Lamanteer who fueled Rowan’s offensive outburst. In just his second appearance, and first start at shortstop, Lamanteer blasted his first two collegiate home runs over the left and right field fence, respectively.
“It felt really good,” Lamanteer said. “I’m more proud of the team, you know, we put together a great day too. We came out with two wins, so to me, that’s really all that matters.”
Joining the fun was Rutgers University transfer Evan McCoach and senior infielder Kevin Cole, who both notched their first career home runs in Game 2 in the bottom of the sixth inning. McCoach and Lamanteer made early contributions for a Rowan Baseball team that needed production from its newest faces.
“The more we can get their feet wet early in the year, hopefully that helps them later in the year when games get a little bit maybe more important,” Dickson said. “So the more that they can get out here and get learning how we want them to play, it’s going to only help us in the future.”
Next stop for the Profs is Florida to participate in this year’s RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. Rowan takes on Keystone this Thursday to start an eight game stretch that includes matchups against Johns Hopkins and Endicott, both 2025 Division III College World Series participants.
“At the end of the day, it’s just another game,” Davis said. “You bring the kid to the ballpark and have fun and win ball games.”
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