Kean Rebounds Against Alvernia,
3-2; Face Widener Tonight
TRENTON, N.J. (5/21/10) – Sophomore
Dylan Laguna scored the game-winning in the bottom
of the eighth inning to lead Kean University to a 3-2 win over
Alvernia University in a NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Tournament
elimination game on Friday afternoon.
The second-seeded Cougars (36-11), who rebounded from their first
loss in the regional tournament since 2006 on Thursday night,
advance to face third-seeded Widener University in another
elimination game Friday evening at 7:45 p.m.
Alvernia closes out the 2010 season with a 32-12 record.
Tied at 2-2, Laguna led off the eighth inning with a walk and
advanced to second and third on a sacrifice bunt and fly out,
respectively. The Crusaders intentionally walked junior
designated hitter Ken Gregory, who then proceeded
to attempt to steal second base, got caught in a run-down that
allowed Laguna (pictured right) to race home before Gregory
was thrown out.
In the top of the ninth inning, left fielder Steve
DeBarberie led off with a single and moved over to third on
back-to-back bunts to put the tying run 90-feet away.
However, Kean reliever Steve Montalbano came in to
force the ground out to earn the one-out save and keep the Cougars
alive.
Kean took a 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning when senior
second baseman Mike Moceri doubled down the
left field line and Gregory followed with a single up the middle to
score Moceri for the early lead.
A pair of Crusader errors in the fourth inning allowed the
Cougars to extend the lead to 2-0, as sophomore first baseman
Lee Cavico had a sacrifice fly to drive in junior
right fielder Nick Nolan, who singled and advanced
to second and third on a pair of throwing errors.
Alvernia answered right back to tie the game in the top of the
fifth when right fielder Brian Witkowski led off with a
single and advanced to third on a base hit by designated hitter
Chris Ray. Witkowski would then score when Ray broke
for second base on the steal attempt and was hit in the back on the
throw from first base, allowing Ray to advance to third.
After a walk put runners on the corners, Ray scored on the
fielder's choice to tie the game at 2-2.
Senior left-hander Nick Cesare (pictured left)
scattered seven hits and five strikeouts and allowed just one
earned run as he improved to 8-1 this season. Gregory
finished 2-of-3 with one RBI, while Laguna and Moceri each had one
hit and one run scored.
For the Crusaders, DeBarberie was a perfect 3-of-3, while Ray
added two hits and one run scored.
