Mahwah, N.J. (4/22/16) – The Kean University baseball team rallied from a six run deficit to defeat #5 Ramapo College, 7-6, to sweep the season series in NJAC action.
Kean (20-12, 9-3 NJAC) topped the Roadrunners (25-6-1, 7-5 NJAC) on Thursday by the final of 5-3.
Senior Chris Amato gutted out an eight and one third inning performance allowing five earned runs with three walks and two strikeouts to improve to 4-2 on the year. Rookie Ian Fitzgerald recorded his fourth save of the season fanning two batters with one intentional walk against the three batters he faced.
Ramapo bolted out of the gate with two runs in the first. With two outs, Joe Venturino and Connor Walsh registered back-to-back doubles and Brandon Martinez followed with an RBI single for a quick 2-0 lead. The Roadrunners made it 3-0 after a Bobby Shannon RBI single in the second. Ramapo added to their lead in the third with three more with three singles and a Cougar miscue.
The Cougar offense came alive in the fourth as Kean plated four runs to cut into the lead. Senior Andy Lopez drove in the first run with a single and later scored with senior Sal Taormina on an errant infield throw. Junior Tyler Heisch made it 6-4 with a RBI sacrifice.
Kean chipped away again in the fifth and added a single run from a Taormina sac fly.
The game was all tied up at six-all after a single run in the sixth. Sophomore Matt Krupa crossed the plate on an RBI untraditional fielder's choice from rookie Shayne Fontana. With the bases loaded, Fontana dumped a ball into short left. The runners initially had to hold and Ramapo was able to get the force at third as Matthew Chemis threw from his knees in left after diving unsuccessfully for the catch.
Kean broke through with the winning run with a two out rally in the ninth. Lopez (pictured left) started the rally with a single and Krupa followed with a single of his own to put runners on the corners. Krupa swiped second and Frank Urso battled to a full-count walk to load the bases. Heisch delivered with an RBI bunt single to give the Cougars a 7-6 advantage, their first of the day.
Ramapo threatened in their last at-bat as Ryan Rinsky started the inning with a walk. A successful bunt moved him into scoring position but Fitzgerald entered and got two big swinging strikeouts, working around Venturino with an intentional walk.
Krupa finished with three hits and two runs scored while Fontana, Lopez, and Heisch all had two hits on the day.
Kean continues NJAC action on Saturday when they travel to Stockton University for an 11:30 am first pitch.
