Augustine Cruises To 1st Round NJAC Win As
Kean Defeats Stockton, 6-1
UNION, N.J. (5/3/07) - Senior Joe
Augustine (Highland Park, N.J.) tossed a complete game to
earn his seventh win of the season as Kean University, the number
one seed in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament,
defeated sixth seeded Richard Stockton College, 6-1, Thursday
afternoon at Jim Hynes Stadium.
The Cougars (31-6) advance to take on fourth seeded Ramapo
College on Saturday, May 5th at 2 p.m. at Bears and
Eagles Riverfront Stadium in Newark, N.J. Third seeded
Montclair State defeated Ramapo College, 7-1. Richard
Stockton (21-13) will now face fifth seeded Rowan University on
Saturday at 10 a.m. Rowan fell to second seeded The College
of New Jersey, 6-1.
Kean scored their first run of the afternoon in the bottom of the
first and led from that point on. With one out and runners on
second and third, junior Derek Gianakas (Edison,
N.J.) lofted a sacrifice fly to centerfield to plate
Maikel De La Rosa (Newark, N.J.) who reached on a
leadoff walk. The Cougars would go on to score a single run
in the second as junior Ryan Clark (Livingston,
N.J.) laid down a squeeze bunt to score senior
Perry Schatzow (Ocean Twp., N.J.) who reached on a
leadoff error to give Kean a 2-0 advantage.
The pitchers then took charge for the next four innings as only
five combined hits were made, with no runner reaching past second
base.
The Cougars then added insurance in the bottom of the seventh,
plating three runs. Designated hitter Mike Shymanski
(Edison, N.J.) led off with a single to left and would go
on to steal second. Clark then reached second on a fielding
miscue as Shymanski came around to score. Senior Joe
D'Andrea (Hamilton, N.J.), who appeared to be bunting,
then slapped what looked like a hit down the first base line.
First baseman Matt Herrmann (Maple Shade, N.J),
playing in on the bunt attempt, made a great defense stab and kept
the ball in the infield but could not get the hustling D'Andrea who
slid into first base with a single. Now with runners on the
corners, De La Rosa laid down a squeeze bunt of his own, to give
Kean a 4-0 lead. D'Andrea would go on to score after swiping
third and crossing the plate on another sacrifice fly, Kean's fifth
sacrifice of the afternoon.
The Ospreys broke up the shutout in the top of the ninth.
Junior Joe Sacerdote (Deptford, N.J.) had a one
out single and was later replaced by pinch-runner Dave
Andrews (Millville, N.J.). Mike Liquori
(Manahawkin, N.J.) moved him to third on a single to right
centerfield. Senior Brian Paras (Cape May Courthouse,
N.J.) then grounded out to the shortstop to drive in the
Ospreys only run of the afternoon.
Augustine (7-2) picked up the complete game win, his fourth
complete game of the season. He allowed just seven hits, all
singles, while fanning eight and walking no one.
Freshman Matt Hunt (Marlton, N.J.) suffered the
loss. Hunt (3-3) allowed five runs, just one earned, in seven
innings of work. He also gave up five hits, struck out one
and walked two.
Offensively Shymanski was 2-for-3 while Clark was 1-for-3 with a
double and RBI for the Cougars.
For Richard Stockton, Sacerdote and Liquori had two hits apiece.
The double-elimination tournament will continue through Monday
at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium in Newark, N.J.
