Ammirata Pinch Hit Sends Kean Past Cortland, 4-1
In 12 Innings
Grand Chute, Wis. (5/25/07) - Junior
Eric Ammirata (Hamilton, N.J.) pinch hit in the
top of the twelfth and chopped a two RBI base hit down the right
field line to send Kean past Cortland State, 4-1 in the opening
round of the NCAA Division III World Series. With the win, Kean
will face Chapman for the fourth time this season on Saturday, May
26th at 8:45 p.m.
The Cougars got their 12th inning rally started when Dan
Mattonelli (Hamilton, N.J.) singled to lead off the frame.
A throwing error by Cortland starting pitcher Jimmy Dougher on
Derek Gianakas' (Edison, N.J.) bunt allowed both
runners to be safe. Another bunt moved both runners up 90 feet, and
senior Perry Schatzow (Ocean Twp., N.J.) was then
intentionally walked to load the bases. Ammirata then hit a
high hopper that got over the head of first baseman Travis Robinson
and two runners scored to put Kean up 3-1. A squeeze bunt by
Ryan Clark (Livingston, N.J.) plated Schatzow and
put the Cougars ahead 4-1.
Kean's 12th inning rally helped deliver a victory for starter
Dan Zeffiro (Old Bridge, N.J.), who tossed
his seventh complete game of the season, this time a 12 inning
affair. He improved to 9-1 while allowing four
hits, fanning nine and walking. Zeffiro held the Red
Dragons 2, 3, and 4 hitters to an 0-for-14 performance. With his
ninth win of the season, Zeffiro has tied the Kean single-season
record for wins in a season. He shares the honor with three
other athletes, as well as himself, earning nine wins in
2005. At this point, he has tossed 24 consecutive innings
without allowing an earned run.
The Cougars grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth when
Aaron Richard (Plainfield, N.J.) to start the
rally. He then scored on Schatzow's single up the middle.
A fielding error started a rally for the Red Dragons that would
tie the game in the bottom of the seventh. Matt Vitalone reached on
the error and moved to second on a bunt. After a ground out moved
Vitalone to third, he scored on Nickel's single to left field.
Kean will now face Chapman University who defeated defending
national champion Marietta College, 8-4, Friday afternoon.
