Cougars Complete 10 Game Homestand
With Win
Union, N.J. (3/11/09) - Freshman Dylan Laguna
(Edison, N.J.) hit his first collegiate homerun as #4 Kean
University defeated the College of Mt. St. Vincent, 4-3, Wednesday
afternoon at Jim Hynes Stadium.
The game was originally scheduled for March 4th, but
was postponed to due field conditions after last week's snow storm.
Senior Pedro Rivera (Elizabeth, N.J.) (pictured
right) earned the win in his first start of the year. Rivera
(1-0) tossed seven and a third innings allowing two runs, one
earned, and three hits. He walked five and struck out
six. Senior Brandon Aich (Sayreville, N.J.)
earned his team-leading sixth save of the season after coming into
the ninth with the winning run at the plate and the tying run at
third. He struck out one and walked one.
Kean (9-1) got things going with a single run in the bottom of
the second as junior Dave Zavistoski (Edison,
N.J.) walked with the bases loaded. The Dolphins
(0-3) tied it up in their half of the fourth as Joe Blackford
(Stewartsville, N.J.) singled up the middle, driving in
Mike Ruckdaschel (East Meadow, N.Y.).
Laguna gave the Cougars the lead for good as he launched his first
homerun of the season, a two-run shot, in the bottom of the fifth.
The Dolphins made things interesting in the top of the ninth,
down 4-2, as Blackford reached on a leadoff triple.
Aich (pictured left) entered the game and forced
John McManus (Bayside, N.Y.) to fly out, scoring Blackford
and pulling Mt. St. Vincent within one. Aich then retired
Mike Pope (Massapequa, N.Y.) on a strike out and after
walking Vito Cataldo (Wantagh, N.Y.), forced a groundout
to end the game.
Junior Mike Moceri (Yardville, N.J.) was
3-for-4 with a double, while Lee Cavico (North Brunswick,
N.J.) was 1-for-3 with an RBI and run scored.
The Cougars will head to the road for the first time this season
as they travel to California, with games starting on Friday, March
13th.
