AMMIRATA, GIANAKAS PROPEL KEAN PAST
WPU, 12-8
Head Coach Neil Ioviero Collects 300th Coaching Win
Union, N.J. (4/3/08) - Senior Eric
Ammirata (Hamilton, N.J.) was 4-for-5 with a triple while
outfielder Derek Gianakas (Edison, N.J.) was
3-for-5 and a triple to lead #3/10 Kean University to a 12-8
victory over visiting William Paterson University Thursday
afternoon at Jim Hynes Stadium.
With the win the Cougars improve to 19-5 overall and 4-1 in the New
Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). The loss drops the
Pioneers to 13-7 and 3-1 in conference play.
The win also gave head coach Neil Ioviero his 300th
coaching victory. In the midst of his 11th season
at the helm of the Cougars he has amassed a 300-130-2 (.697)
overall record.
In today's action, KU got on the board early and often after
plating 10 runs in the first six innings of action, including a
five spot in the bottom of the sixth. In the sixth catcher
Kevin O'Neill (Union, N.J.) started off the inning
with a double. Ammirata pushed him across with an RBI
single. Gianakas followed that up with a triple to give the
Cougars a 7-0 advantage. Senior Dan Mattonelli
(Hamilton, N.J.) kept the offense going with an RBI single
of his own. Later in the inning with the bases loaded,
pinch-runner Gabe Ramirez (North Bergen, N.J.)
crossed the plate on a balk and sophomore Chris Carrano
(Lincoln Park, N.J.) rounded out the scoring with a
sacrifice fly.
The Pioneers got right back into things putting up a five spot
of their own in the top of the seventh. Junior Will
Courter (Roseland, N.J.) provided the big blow with a two-out,
two RBI single.
Kean added insurance runs in the bottom of the same inning as
Ammirata registered an RBI triple and later scored on a wild pitch.
On the mound, sophomore Joe Bartlinski (South Amboy,
N.J.) picked up his fourth win of the season as he tossed
seven innings allowing five runs, all unearned, as well as five
hits. Bartlinski (4-1) also walked three and struck out
four. Senior Steve Schlitzer (West New York, N.J.)
suffered the loss after throwing five innings. He (1-2)
allowed 10 hits and five runs (four earned) while also striking out
two.
Offensively sophomore Mike Diaz (Westfield,
N.J.) was 2-for-4 with two doubles while teammate
Mike Moceri (Yardville, N.J.) (pictured right) was
3-for-4 with two runs scored and a double in the win.
For the Pioneers, senior Dan Limone (Teaneck, N.J.)
finished the day with a 2-for-3 performance and three RBI.
Kean will return to conference action as they take on the Gothic
Knights of New Jersey City University on Friday, April
4th at 3 p.m. while the Pioneers will host
Rutgers-Newark at 3:30 p.m.
