TCNJ Edges Kean In Extras; Cougars Fall 4-3 In
12 Innings
Newark, N.J. (5/6/07) - Sophomore Vince
Mazzaccaro (Gloucester, N.J.) singled home senior
Dan Czepiga (Lawrenceville, N.J.) in the bottom of
the twelfth to send second seeded The College of New Jersey (31-8)
into the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship game by
defeating first seeded Kean University, 4-3.
With the loss, Kean (32-7) will now fall into the losers bracket
and will square off against the winner of this afternoon's matchup
featuring #3 Montclair State University and #5 Rowan University at
6 p.m. this evening.
The Cougars broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the 11th as
junior Ryan Clark (Livingston, N.J.) singled home
senior Perry Schatzow (Ocean Twp., N.J.) to give
Kean a slim 3-2 edge. In the bottom of the same inning TCNJ
led off with a triple to deep right centerfield by sophomore
Jeff Toth (Parlin, N.J.), his second triple of the
afternoon.
The score quickly was tied at three when the next batter,
Blake Bullis (Delran, N.J.) hit a triple of his
own bringing home Toth. Kean then elected to intentionally
walk the next two batters, Gerard Haran (Matawan,
N.J.) and Andrew Cosgrove (Lebanon, N.J.)
to force the bases loaded with no outs. Relief pitcher
Brandon Aich (Sayreville, N.J.) proceeded to get
three outs as Matt Zonies (Marlton, N.J.) reached
on a fielders choice, as Maikel De La Rosa (Newark,
N.J.) threw out Bullis at the plate with the force out.
Pinch-hitter Bill Kropp (Pottstown, N.J.)
struck out looking and the final out of the inning was recorded as
Haran was caught off third after a blown squeeze attempt.
In the crucial 12th inning, Czepiga led off with a
double down the leftfield line. Dave Mebs
(Cinnaminson, N.J.) then bunted back to the pitcher, but
Aich's throw was high in an attempt to get the lead runner. With
runners at first and third and no outs, Mazzaccaro singled to
leftfield for the winning run.
Aich (1-1) suffered the loss after tossing two plus innings
allowing four hits and two runs, one earned. Senior
Dan Zeffiro (Old Bridge, N.J.) received a no
decision after tossing nine innings allowing two runs, one earned
and six hits. He also fanned eight and walked three.
Senior Bill Opel (Bayonne, N.J.) earned the win
for the Lions. Opel (2-0) allowed two hits and one run in
three and two third innings.
Offensively for the Cougars Schatzow was 3-for-6 with two runs
scored while Clark finished 2-for-4 with two RBI.
For TCNJ, Bullis was 3-for-5 with two RBI while Toth was
2-for-5.
