Cougars Edge Wooster, 16-15
Port Charlotte, Fla. (3/15/10) – In what turned out
to be an offensive affair in which both ranked teams combined for
31 runs and 37 hits, the Kean University baseball team came out on
top, edging the Wooster Scots, 16-15, Monday afternoon in the
Snowbird Baseball Classic.
Every member of the starting lineup registered a hit for the
Cougars who earn their first win down in Florida. Freshman
Steve Nappe (Edison, N.J.) and junior Ken
Gregory (Pittstown, N.J.) each drove in four as Kean
improved to 7-4.
After falling behind 1-0 early, the Cougar bats came alive as
they plated nine runs in the second and another four in the third
to take a 13-1 lead. Highlighting the second inning included
a two RBI double from Nappe, a two RBI single by senior
Dave Zavistoski (Edison, N.J.), a two RBI double
by Gregory (pictured right) and a two run blast by junior
Nick Nolan (Linden, N.J.).
The Scots (6-1) responded with seven runs of their own in the
fourth inning. After leading off the inning with a solo
shot, Wooster tacked on another six, all with two outs after a
Cougar miscue, scoring on four straight hits, including a three run
shot. After four innings, Kean held a 13-8 lead.
Holding a 15-9 lead heading into the seventh, Wooster struck
again, plating five runs and pulling within one. In the
eighth, senior Mike Moceri (Yardville, N.J.) led
off with a double and would later score what would be the winning
run off an RBI single by Gregory.
Senior Joe Tarallo (South Amboy, N.J.) (pictured
left) closed the door and held off a late Wooster rally, to earn
his second save of the year.
Sophomore Julian Diaz (North Bergen, N.J.)
earned the win. Diaz (2-1) allowed 12 hits in six innings of
work. He allowed nine runs, three earned.
Offensively Gregory was 3-for-5 with four RBI while Nappe was
2-for-4 with a homerun and four RBI. Moceri finished the
afternoon with a 4-for-6 performance and three runs scored while
catcher Eddie Jennings (Jackson, N.J.) was
3-for-5.
Kean finishes their scheduled Snowbird Baseball Classic games on
Tuesday, when they face Kenyon College at noon at South County
Regional Park.
