LEESBURG, FLA. – Eric Perez's two-out RBI single broke a tie in the top of the seventh and Rowan defeated nationally top-ranked Cortland, 5-4. The Profs improved to 7-2 with the victory. The Red Dragons finished 5-3 on their Florida trip and are 10-4 overall.

Rowan took a 4-1 lead in the sixth on Ryan Easterday's pinch-hit, two-run double with two outs. In the bottom of the inning, P.J. Rinaldi (Bethel, CT) doubled with two outs, Max Rosing (Rockville Centre/South Side) was hit by a pitch and pinch hitter Chris Jackson (Wappingers Falls/Roy C. Ketcham) hit a three-run homer to tie the game at 4-4.

The Profs' go-ahead rally in the seventh started with a Sean Kelly one-out double. Casey Grimes walked and reliever George Jweid (Utica/New Hartford) got the next batter to fly out. Perez followed by hitting a flare to center for an RBI single.

Cortland's best chance to tie the game came in the bottom of the ninth. Donny Castaldo (Mount Kisco/Fox Lane) singled with one out. Zack Graczyk then hit a ball in the gap but Perez, Rowan's centerfielder, made a running catch for the second out. A Brian Barry (Nesconset/Smithtown East) single and a John Adornetto (Commack) walk loaded the bases. Nick Henderson, who entered the game prior to the Graczyk lineout, got the final batter to ground out on a chopper to short for his first save of the season.

Perez and Kevin McMenamin each finished 3-for-4 to account for six of Rowan's nine hits. Jeff White pitched six innings for the win. He allowed six hits, a walk and four runs and struck out four.

Mike Hughes (Albany) started for Cortland. He gave up eight hits and three walks, struck out four and allowed five runs. Rinaldi went 2-for-5 and Adornetto was 1-for-3 with two walks.

Cortland returns north and will play at Rochester on Wednesday, March 20, at 3 p.m.

Box Score