Aich Seals Win as Kean Defeats Stevens, 6-5
Hoboken, N.J. (2/27/08) - Junior relief pitcher
Brandon Aich (Sayreville, N.J.) picked up his
first win of the season, fanning seven batters while senior catcher
Kevin O'Neill (Union, N.J.) was 3-for-4 with a
solo shot as third ranked Kean University opened the 2008 season by
defeating Stevens Institute of Technology, 6-5, Wednesday
afternoon.
The Ducks (1-3) picked up the game's first run in the bottom of
the second, but the Cougars (1-0) quickly responded in their next
at-bat as senior Eric Ammirata (Hamilton, N.J.)
tied things up with a single to rightfield. Senior
Dan Mattonelli (Hamilton, N.J.) broke the game
open with a two RBI single up the middle.
KU then added to their lead in the fourth as O'Neill led off the
inning with his first homerun of the year to give Kean a 5-1
advantage.
Stevens then made things interesting in their half of the
seventh with a bases-loaded two RBI single to pull within one and
later in the inning scoring on a wild pitch to tie the game at
five.
In the top of the eighth, O'Neill again provided a spark with a
one-out single to give the Cougars the lead for good. Aich
closed the door by striking out the final six batters of the game
to seal the win.
Senior Tom Paglione (Hamilton, N.J.) (pictured
left) suffered a tough no-decision after tossing six innings
allowing just one earned run. He also fanned seven and walked
just one.
Kean returns to action on Friday, February 29th when
they take on ninth ranked Eastern Connecticut State University at 2
p.m.
