Claremont, Calif. (3/9/13) – The Kean University baseball team used a five run sixth inning to propel them past La Verne University by the final of 8-6, Saturday afternoon.
With the win the #7/9 Cougars improve to 7-2 this season and earn a split with the Leopards (10-5) who edged Kean by a 2-1 count on Friday.
Junior Joe O'Connor led the offense with a 2-for-4 day and two RBI. He was one of four Cougars with a multi-hit afternoon as Kean tallied 12 hits in the win.
The Leopards struck first, recording single runs in the first and third via an RBI groundout and a one-out RBI single.
Kean chipped away getting one back in the fourth as O'Connor collected his first RBI of the afternoon with a single up the middle plating rookie Ryan Reitmeyer who reached via a leadoff single of his own.
Kean took the lead for good with a five run sixth frame. The Cougars pounded out five straight singles to start the inning, knocking out starter Phil Schick and collecting two runs in the process. Rookie Salvatore Taormina registered the first RBI of the inning, followed by freshman Ryan Kelley, a bases loaded double-play, and a RBI single off the bat of junior Tyler Smarslok.
The Leopards didn't go quietly, scoring three right back in the bottom of the same inning, aided by two miscues from the Cougars. But Kean kept the pressure on, plating two more in the seventh to take an 8-5 lead. Senior Nick Ramagli led off the inning with a walk and proceeded to swipe second and move to third on an errant pickoff throw. O'Connor then recorded his second RBI with a sacrifice fly and Kean closed out the inning as Taormina crossed the plate before La Verne retired Kelley in a rundown.
Sophomore Dan Hansen was able to pick up the save after working into and out of trouble. Hansen (pictured left) earned the save after pitching the final four innings of the day, allowing two runs, one earned, with four hits. Senior Sam Fourre (1-1) earned the win after tossing five innings, allowing eight hits and four runs.
Offensively Reitmeyer, O'Connor, Taormina and sophomore Anthony Fischetti each had two hits on the afternoon. Junior Shane Alvarez was the only Cougar with an extra base hit, a double.
Kean will take a short break and return to action on Monday evening when they take on west coast rival Chapman University at 7 p.m. local time.
