Cougars Cruise Past Manhattanville,
19-5
Union, N.J. (2/22/09) - Rookies Dylan Laguna
(Edison, N.J.) and Lee Cavico (North Brunswick,
N.J.) combined for seven hits and eight runs scored as
#4/7 Kean University picked up their second straight win defeating
Manhattanville College, 19-5, Sunday afternoon at a rainy Jim Hynes
Stadium.
The Cougars (2-0) pounded out 19 runs and 19 hits, their highest
of this young season. The Valiants (0-1) were led by leadoff
hitter Chris Nastasi (Bayville, N.Y.) who was 2-for-4 with
two RBI and a homerun.
Manhattanville started off their season with a bang, as Nastasi
led off the game with a solo shot to put the Valiants ahead, 1-0.
Kean, however, scored four runs in both the first and second
innings and never looked back. Laguna (pictured right) got
the game going with a leadoff double. After stealing third,
junior Mike Moceri (Yardville, N.J.) hit a triple
to bring him home and would score himself on a throwing error by
the shortstop in the relay throw. Sophomore Jared
Orgel (East Hanover, N.J.) later delivered a two RBI
single to center to drive in two to complete the inning.
The second inning belonged to junior Nick Nolan (Linden,
N.J.) as he delivered a monster shot to centerfield,
driving in three.
The Cougars cruised from there, scoring in every inning but the
fourth.
Junior Joe Bartlinski (South Amboy, N.J.)
picked up the win. Bartlinski (1-0) tossed seven strong
innings allowing five runs, four earned, and eight hits. He
also struck out six and walked four. Senior Kyle
Murphy (East Hanover, N.J.) closed out the game with two
innings of shutout ball, allowing just one hit.
On the mound, junior Steven Arroyo-Falcon (Bronx, N.Y.)
suffered the loss. Arroyo-Falcon threw one inning allowing
four runs and three hits. On the afternoon, the Valiants used
seven pitchers in their season opener.
Offensively Laguna was 4-for-5 with four runs scored and three
stolen bases while Cavico was 3-for-4 with four runs scored and
three RBI. Sophomore Kyle Walker (Piscataway,
N.J.) recorded three hits in three at-bats while crossing
the plate two times. Moceri (pictured left) finished the
afternoon with three hits and three runs scored to go along with
two RBI.
Kean will return to their 11 game home stretch when they take on
DeSales University on Tuesday, February 24th at 2:30
p.m.
