Fourth Time's a Charm

TRENTON, N.J. (5/22/10) – In the fourth and most important match-up of the year between New Jersey Athletic Conference rivals Kean University and Rowan University, the Cougars finally were able to top Rowan, 4-3, in an elimination game of the NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament at Waterfront Park. 

The second-seeded Cougars (38-11) advance to face Johns Hopkins University, needing to beat the top-seeded Blue Jays later this afternoon and on Sunday afternoon to move on to their fourth-straight World Series. 

Rowan (26-16-1), who ended the Cougars' 13-game regional win streak on Thursday evening for their third win against Kean this year, scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth and had the game-winning run at the plate before a fly out ended the season.

With Kean leading 4-1 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, Rowan had pinch runner Nate Floyd on first and was down to their final out before designated hitter Kevin O'Brien homered to right field to pull the Profs to within 4-3.  After a walk put the tying runner on first base and brought shortstop Marc Magliaro to the plate with the game-winning run, however Kean starter Julian Diaz (pictured right) got Magliaro to fly out to centerfield to end the game and keep the Cougars alive. 

Both teams traded runs in the first inning, with Kean getting on board first in the top half of the inning when sophomore centerfielder Ryan Gibbons led off the game with a double and scored on the RBI groundout by junior Ken Gregory.  Rowan centerfielder Matt Citro answered with his own lead-off double in the home half of the inning and after advancing to third on a groundout, he would score on a two-out double by Turano.

The Cougars took the lead for good in the top of the fourth inning when sophomore left fielder Dylan Laguna led off with a single, stole second and scored the go-ahead run on the RBI single by right-fielder Nick Nolan.  Nolan would come around to score later in the inning on the RBI fielder's choice by catcher Eddie Jennings for the 3-1 lead.

Two innings later, the Cougars scored what proved to be the game-winning run, as sophomore first baseman Lee Cavico led off with an infield single, advanced to second on the sacrifice bunt by junior third baseman Chris Carrano and scored on the single by Jennings (pictured left) for the 4-1 lead.

Diaz (6-1) earned his first complete game victory over the year, scattering only six hits and three walks, while striking out seven to lift the Cougars into the championship round. 

Nolan was 2-of-4 with one RBI and one run scored and Laguna added two hits and one run scored in the win.

O'Brien was 2-of-3 with two RBI and one run scored, while right-fielder Jordan Marsch finished 2-of-4 for Rowan.