Union, N.J. (2/28/13) – The Kean University baseball team scratched across a run in the bottom of the eighth to erase a 1-1 deadlock and send the Cougars past DeSales University, 2-1, Thursday afternoon.
The Cougars (3-1) were able to take advantage of the fourth Bulldog miscue on the afternoon in their half of the eighth. With one out, sophomore Andy Lopez reached on a throwing error. Senior Nick Ramagli then laced a single down the right field line, moving Lopez into scoring position at third. Junior Joe O'Connor grounded the ball to the right side, allowing Lopez to score what would be the winning run.
#7/10 Kean tied the contest at one-all in the bottom of the fourth, again thanks to Bulldog errors. Ramagli started off the frame reaching on a fielding miscue. He would later swipe second and would come around to score on an error by the first baseman. Starter Colby Pacillo was able to work out of trouble as he basically recorded six outs in the inning, working around the three errors. Pacillo factored into a no-decision, allowing just one hit and one unearned run in four innings of work.
DeSales (0-1) jumped on board in their first at-bat, plating a single run in the first. With two outs, senior Jack Kavetski kept the inning going with a walk and senior Brian Mauro followed with a double down the line. With runners on second and third, Kavetski came around to score on a wild pitch.
Southpaw Dan Hansen (1-0) (pictured left) earned the win as he tossed eight innings allowing just one run and four hits. He struck out two and walked four, including an intentional walk. Sophomore Charles Thielmann picked up the save as he threw a one-two-three ninth inning. Reliever Dan Gayeski was the hard luck loser as he allowed one unearned run in three and two thirds innings with two hits and four strikeouts.
Offensively, Mauro was the only player to record multiple hits on the afternoon, as both teams combined for just seven on the day.
Kean returns to action on Friday, March 1st when they host Neumann University at 2 p.m.
