The stage is set in Gorham, Maine, where the RIT baseball team will begin its NCAA Division III Tournament journey against the fifth‑seeded Rowan Profs at 11 a.m. The matchup marks the second straight appearance for the Tigers, who earned the berth by capturing the Liberty League Tournament title.
RIT arrives as the fourth seed and brings a pitching rotation that has been nothing short of dominant. Senior right‑hander Ryan Moran and sophomore left‑hander Dylan Joseph have combined for 13 wins without a loss, giving the Tigers a reliable foundation as they look to extend their season.
At the plate, the lineup leans on two proven hitters. Trent Rapp is batting .386 and has scored a team‑high 50 runs, while Jackson Rusiecki has driven in a team‑best 41 RBIs, providing the offensive punch needed to complement the arms on the mound.
Rowan’s own arsenal of talent
Rowan enters the game as the top seed in the nation’s Division III rankings, boasting a 2.98 ERA from ace pitcher Austin Kreyenhagen, who has worked 57.1 innings this season. Adding to the threat, Brayden Davis has hit a career‑best 11 home runs, underscoring the Profs’ balanced attack.
The contrast between the two programs adds intrigue. While Rowan is making its ninth consecutive NCAA appearance, RIT’s recent surge reflects a program that has quickly risen from a modest schedule to a national contender. Fans can expect a clash of pitching precision against a potent mix of power and contact hitting.
As the Tigers prepare to take the field, the narrative centers on whether their disciplined pitching staff can contain Rowan’s potent bats, and whether the offensive duo of Rapp and Rusiecki can deliver the runs needed to advance. The outcome will not only shape RIT’s tournament trajectory but also highlight the growing competitiveness of Liberty League baseball on a national stage.