Kean Claims 2007 Regular Season NJAC
Crown;
Sweeps Camden 5-4 & 8-7
UNION, N.J. (4/29/07) - Junior
Derek Gianakas (Edison, N.J.) drove in six on the
day while senior Dan Zeffiro (Old Bridge, N.J.)
tossed a complete game to earn the win in game one as Kean
University swept visiting Rutgers-Camden, 5-4 & 8-7 Sunday
afternoon at Jim Hynes Stadium.
With the win the Cougars claim the 2007 New Jersey Athletic
Conference (NJAC) regular season crown for just the second time in
program history. The Cougars also won the regular season
championship in 2005. Kean currently boasts a 14-3 NJAC record
(29-6 overall), with one conference game remaining.
Game One
The Scarlet Raptors (14-23, 2-15 NJAC) got on the board first
plating two runs in the second and a single run in the third as
senior Tom Terrill (Sewell, N.J.) doubled to left
to bring in the game's first run and later scored on an RBI single
by Vince Giunta (Sewell, N.J.). In the
third, senior Mark Wickersham (Cinnaminson, N.J.)
lofted a sacrifice fly to give Rutgers-Camden a 3-1 lead.
The Cougars would go on to plate four runs in the bottom of the
fifth with just one hit recorded in the inning. Gianakas
delivered the crucial hit with one out and the bases loaded,
driving across the tying and go-ahead run. Junior Dan
Mattonelli (Hamilton, N.J.), who reached on a bases loaded
walk, would later cross the plate on an outfield error for what
would be the winning run.
Rutgers-Camden pulled within one in the top of the eighth as
Nate Buchter (Blackwood, N.J.) doubled with two
outs.
Zeffiro (7-1) earned the win allowing four runs and ten
hits. He also fanned six and walked two.
Offensively Gianakas was 2-for-4 with three RBI and a solo
homerun. For the Scarlet Raptors Buchter was 3-for-5 while
teammate Dean Straga (Mullica Hill, N.J.) was
2-for-3 with two runs scored.
Junior Andrew Lihotz (Philadelphia, Pa.)
suffered the loss. Lihotz (1-3) tossed 4 and 2/3 innings
allowing five runs, four earned, and just one hit. He walked
four and struck out three.
Game Two
It was a see-saw affair in the nightcap as both teams used big
innings to take the lead. Kean plated three runs in the
bottom of the first as senior Aaron Richard (Plainfield,
N.J.) launched his first homerun of the season, a three
run blast to give Kean a 3-1 lead. Rutgers-Camden responded
and scored four of their own in their next at-bat. Buchter
opened the gates with a bases-clearing triple to help put the
Scarlet Raptors ahead, 5-3.
After exchanging single runs, Kean responded in the bottom of
the fourth with yet another three run blast, this time off the bat
of Gianakas, his third of the season and second of the afternoon,
putting the Cougars ahead 7-6. Both teams would again
exchange single runs, but each teams' relievers shut the door on
the offense, giving the Cougars a slim 8-7 win.
Reliever Andy Cupido (South Plainfield, N.J.)
picked up the win for Kean. Cupido (2-2) tossed 5 and 2/3
innings allowing two runs and four hits. He also fanned five
and walked just one. Sophomore Brandon Aich
(Sayreville, N.J.) picked up his third save of the
season. Aich tossed two innings of shutout ball, allowing
just one hit along the way.
Starter Pat Faulls (Laurel Springs, N.J.)
suffered the loss for Rutgers-Camden. He (2-3) allowed eight
runs, five earned, and six hits.
Offensively for the Cougars Gianakas was 3-for-4 with three RBI
and three runs scored while junior Eric Ammirata (Hamilton,
N.J.) was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.
For the Scarlet Raptors, Buchter was 2-for-4 with three RBI
while Terrill was 2-for-5 with two RBI.
Kean will travel to New Jersey City University to take on the
Gothic Knights in their final regular season NJAC game on Monday,
April 30th at 3:30 p.m.
