Cougars Top Red Hawks in NJAC
Opener, 5-4
Union, N.J. (3/26/09) - Southpaw Ryan Zamorsky
(Branchburg, N.J.) earned his third win of the season as
#5/9 Kean University picked up their first New Jersey Athletic
Conference (NJAC) win, defeating rival Montclair State University,
5-4, in a rain/darkness shortened affair, Thursday afternoon at Jim
Hynes Stadium.
The game was called in the middle of the seventh inning due to
darkness officially, however both teams played through several
innings of rain up to that point as well.
The win improves Kean to 15-4 overall and 1-0 in the NJAC.
Montclair State falls to 5-8 and 0-1. This game was the only
NJAC game to be played on the official first day of conference
competition.
The Cougars broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the fifth, plating
two runs. With two outs and runners on the corners, pinch-hitter
D.J. Breckenridge (Fair Haven, N.J.) (pictured
right) hit a blooper to right-center to bring home Nick
Ramagli (Emerson, N.J.) who reached on a single.
Junior Dave Zavistoski (Edison, N.J.) followed
that with an RBI single of his own, a bunt down the third baseline
to give KU a 5-3 lead.
The Red Hawks tacked on a run in the top of the seventh, but it
could have been more if not for the job of closer Brandon
Aich (Sayreville, N.J.). With runners on second and
third after a balk, senior Ed Kloepping (Pennsville, N.J.)
singled to second base to bring home Scott Evangelist
(Northfield, N.J.), who reached on a leadoff single.
After a wild pitch, there were once again runners on second and
third, still with no outs. Aich (pictured left) then struck
out the next three batters he faced, closing out the inning, and
what would turn out to be the game.
KU originally jumped on the board with a 3-0 lead in the fourth
as Zavistoski and freshman Vinny Galya (Old Bridge,
N.J.) each recorded RBI singles, while junior Mike
Moceri (Yardville, N.J.) recorded a sacrifice fly.
MSU then tied things right up with a three spot in the top of
the fifth. Kloepping and Michael Boggi (Towaco,
N.J.) each had RBI singles in the frame.
Zamorsky (3-0) (pictured right) earned the win after tossing six
innings. He allowed three runs and seven hits while walking
four and striking out three. Aich earned his seventh save of
the season after tossing an inning, allowing one hit and one
walk. He fanned three to end the seventh.
Junior Daniel Nodarse (Rutherford, N.J.) suffered the
loss. Nodarse (1-1) threw four and a third allowing all five
runs to go along with six hits. He walked one and fanned one.
Offensively, Zavistoski was 2-for-3 with two RBI while teammate
Kyle Walker (Piscataway, N.J.) was 1-for-3 with
two runs scored. For MSU, Kloepping was 2-for-2 with two RBI
while Jay Bionde (Pompton Plains, N.J.) was 2-for-4.
Kean returns to NJAC action when they host Rutgers-Newark on
Friday, March 27th at 3:30 p.m. Montclair will
host Rutgers-Camden on Saturday, March 28th at noon.
