Claremont, Calif. (3/12/13) – Junior Joe O'Connor laced a two RBI triple in the top of the ninth, sparking a five-run inning as the Kean University baseball outlasted Ithaca College by the final of 12-10 on Tuesday.

Trailing 8-7 entering the ninth frame, junior Matt Horican got things going with a walk.  Senior Nick Ramagli reached base via a Bomber miscue setting up O'Connor with an RBI opportunity.  O'Connor delivered, giving Kean just their second lead of the day.  Kean (8-3) kept the pressure on as rookie Salvatore Taormina lofted a sacrifice fly for the third run of the inning.  Freshmen D.J. Ross and Matt Meleo registered back-to-back singles to keep the inning alive and sophomore Anthony Fischetti poured it in with a single to center.  A fielding miscue allowed another run to score with both runners moving up, putting two runners in scoring position with still just one out.  Junior Tyler Smarslok made it 12-8 with a perfectly placed bunt, allowing Meleo to cross the plate.

Ithaca (4-3) went down fighting, scoring two more in the bottom of the ninth with four straight one-out singles.  Reliever Charles Thielmann worked into and out of trouble to secure the win. 

Rookie Chris Amato picked up his first collegiate win after tossing one and two thirds innings of relief.  In his first appearance, Amato (pictured left) struck out one and walked one with just one hit.

The matchup featured 28 combined hits with 22 runs scored and eight total miscues on the day.  The Cougars and Bombers scored in all but two innings in the contest.

Offensively Smarslok led the Cougars with three RBI while Meleo finished the day with a 3-for-4 performance with three runs scored and an RBI. 

Kean continues their west coast swing facing the University of Redlands on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.  local time.