Baseball Bests Rutgers-Camden,
10-2
Camden, N.J. (4/15/10) – Kean scored nine
runs over the final three innings to break up a one-run
pitchers' duel and went on to defeat Rutgers-Camden, 10-2, in
NJAC action Thursday afternoon at Campbell's Field.
Kean improves to 18-9 overall and evens its record at 4-4 in the
NJAC. Rutgers-Camden falls to 12-11 overall and 2-5 in
conference play.
Most of the game was a tight duel between freshman Kevin
Herget (Park Ridge, N.J.) and Rutgers-Camden junior
John Diamond (Mt. Holly, N.J.). The Cougars notched a
second-inning run on a two-out RBI single by sophomore catcher
Eddie Jennings (Jackson, N.J.) (pictured right)
and the game stayed that way into the seventh inning. Diamond
allowed only six hits through the first six innings and Herget was
even sharper, shutting out the Scarlet Raptors on only four hits
through six innings. Herget hurled no-hit ball for three innings
until Raptor senior shortstop Kyle Ballay (Delran, N.J.)
lined an infield single to open the fourth inning.
Both teams left the bases loaded once in that six-inning span as
Kean stranded three runners in the third, aided by a huge
inning-ending catch by Camden and Rutgers-Camden left the bags full
in the fifth.
The Cougars opened up the game with a three-run seventh. The
first four men reached base on three hits and a hit batsman,
including a high-bounding single over first base and into right
field by senior shortstop Dave Zavistoski (Edison,
N.J.), which produced two runs. Senior Mike Moceri
(Yardville, N.J.) followed with a sacrifice fly.
The Cougars added a run in the eighth on an RBI double by
Jennings before the Scarlet Raptors got on the board in the bottom
of the eighth. Ballay opened the inning with a double to left and
scored on a one-out double to left by senior Greg Hunt
(Marlton, N.J.). A bases-loaded walk to sophomore pinch-hitter
Joe Merlino (Pine Hill, N.J.) later made it a 5-2 game,
but the Raptors left the tying runs on base as the Cougars got out
of the bases-loaded jam on a fly out.
Kean quickly put the game away in the ninth, scoring five times
on a walk and four hits. Moceri and sophomore first baseman
Lee Cavico (North Brunswick, N.J.) had RBI singles
in the frame, while sophomore outfielder Dylan Laguna
(Edison, N.J.) doubled home another run. The explosion was
capped by a long two-run home run down the left field line by
junior right fielder Nick Nolan (Linden, N.J.).
For the game, Cavico and Jennings each had three hits to lead a
15-hit Cougar attack. Moceri, Nolan and sophomore designated hitter
D.J. Breckenridge (Fair Haven, N.J.) each added
two hits.
Herget (4-0) (pictured left) worked seven and a third innings to
pick up the win, allowing six hits, four walks and two earned runs.
He struck out nine, including a stretch of five straight beginning
with one out in the second inning.
Kean will play a home doubleheader Saturday when they host
Ramapo College at 11:30 a.m.
