MSU Edges Kean in Extras, 2-1
Little Falls, N.J. (3/29/07) - Sophomore
rightfielder Scott Evangelist (Northfield, N.J.)
lofted a one-out sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the bottom
of the 10th inning to plate the winning run as Montclair State
edged No. 7 Kean University, 2-1, in the New Jersey Athletic
Conference opener for both teams at Yogi Berra Stadium on Thursday
afternoon.
The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for Montclair, which
improved to 8-7 overall, while Kean falls to 8-3 in having its
two-game winning streak snapped. It is the second straight season
at Yogi Berra Stadium that the teams needed extra innings to decide
a winner. Last year, MSU prevailed 7-6 in 11 innings.
Montclair State's Jairo Mendez (Kearny, N.J.)
nearly had a four-hit shutout to his credit until the Red Hawks
committed two errors in the ninth inning allowing the Cougars to
tie the game. Eric Ammirata (Hamilton, NJ) singled
to lead off the inning, but Mendez got a double play to get within
an out of the victory. Kean then got life as Derek Gianakis
(Edison, N.J.) and Perry Schatzow (Ocean Township,
N.J.) reached on back-to-back errors putting runners at
the corner. Pinch-hitter Mike Shymanski (Edison,
N.J.) was down to his last strike before lining a 2-2
pitch up the middle to score Gianakis with the tying run. Freshman
Jesus Castano (West New York, N.J.) would relieve
Mendez and get the next out to end the inning.
After Dan Zeffiro (Old Bridge, N.J.) sent the game
into extra innings with a 1-2-3 ninth, Castano answered retiring
the side in order in the 10th. In the bottom of the inning, Zeffiro
got the first batter, however two Kean errors proved costly as
pinch-hitter Eric Johnson (Whippany, N.J.) reached
on the first miscue and Michael Nunes (Hazlet,
N.J.) followed with a base hit to put runners at first and
second. Joseph Zembryski (Rutherford, N.J.) lined
a ball to right field that was dropped, allowing Montclair to load
the bases. Zeffiro would get ahead two strikes before Evangelist
was able to connect on a fly ball to deep right field that easily
scored Johnson with the winning run.
Castano picked up the win as he improved to 3-1. Mendez allowed
five hits and the unearned run in 8 2/3 innings, striking out eight
and walking one. Zeffiro was saddled with the loss despite a solid
performance, yielding two runs (one earned) and six hits in 9 2/3
innings. He too fanned eight and walked only one in falling to 2-1
on the year.
Mendez and Zeffiro matched zeroes on the board until the bottom of
the fifth inning. Lou Politan (Livingston, N.J.)
singled to open the inning and Rob Clark (Livingston,
N.J.) followed with a base hit through the left side.
After a flyout, James Scelzo (Staten Island, N.Y.)
singled through the right side with Politan sliding in at home
plate just ahead of the throw from right field for a 1-0 MSU
lead.
Mendez made the lead stick until the final inning as he retired
nine straight until the Ammirata single in the ninth.
Gianakis finished 2-for-4 for Kean.
Kean will host Mercy College in its home opener at Jim Hynes Field
tomorrow, Friday, March 30th at 3 p.m.
