Pioneers Top Kean, 8-2
Union, N.J. (4/30/09) - Sophomore Mike
Moran (Pompton Plains, N.J.) was 2-for-5 with three RBI as #3
William Paterson University defeated #1 Kean University for the
third time this season by the final of 8-2, Thursday afternoon, in
the second round of action in the New Jersey Athletic Conference
(NJAC) Tournament.
With the win, William Paterson advances to take on #6 Rowan
University on Saturday, May 2nd at noon. Kean will
face off against #2 Montclair State University at 8 a.m. The
winner of the KU/MSU matchup will take on #4 The College of New
Jersey at 4 p.m. All games will be played at Jim Hynes
Stadium.
Both teams traded single runs in the second inning before the
Pioneers (23-16) took the lead for good with a run in the
fourth. Catcher Don Hays (Paramus, N.J.) hit his
second RBI single of the afternoon as WPU took a 2-1 lead.
William Paterson then put the game out of reach with a four spot in
the sixth inning. Outfielders Mike Guadango (Upper Saddle
River, N.J.) and John Elia (Emerson, N.J.) led off
the frame with back-to-back doubles. Moran then followed 
with a two-run blast to rightfield. Later in the inning, Hays
would come around and score on a squeeze bunt to give the Pioneers
a 6-1 lead.
Senior Dan VandeVrede (Lincoln Park, N.J.) picked up
the complete game win. VandeVrede (5-3) allowed ten hits and
two runs. He also walked one and struck out two.
Junior Joe Bartlinski (South Amboy, N.J.)
suffered the loss for the Cougars (33-8). Bartlinski (6-3)
allowed six runs, five earned, in eight innings of work.
The loss broke two streaks for Kean. The Cougars saw their
longest winning streak of the season stopped at 11, dating back to
the last matchup against William Paterson on April
10th. Junior Mike Moceri (Yardville,
N.J.) also had his 21 game hitting streak halted after
going 0-5.
Offensively Mike Manganiello (Berkeley Heights,
N.J.) was 3-for-3 for KU while Elia was 3-for-3 with three
runs scored and two RBI for WPU.
