Moosic, Pa. (5/21/16) – The Kean University baseball advanced to the championship game of the Mid-Atlantic Regional tournament by defeating the University of Massachusetts Boston 5-1 on Saturday.
Kean improves to 30-17, the 12th straight year they have won 30 or more games. In addition, the Cougars are making their ninth appearance in 10 years in the regional championship game.
The Cougars will face St. John Fisher who is currently undefeated in tournament play and will need to defeat them twice to advance.
Kean got on the board early as Tyler Heisch and Chris Amato reached via a hit-by-pitch. Senior Ryan Kelley loaded the bases after an errant throw on a sacrifice attempt. Kean then grounded into a double play, but Heisch scampered home for the 1-0 lead.
Kean added a single run in the third as Amato reached on a one out single. He moved to third on a hit-and-run from Kelley and came across to score on a groundout from Sal Taormina.
Ian Fitzgerald's defense helped him in the fifth as the Beacons had a runner at third with one out. Josh Lopez lofted a ball to center for out number two and Shayne Fontana gunned down Kyle Boudrias at home for the inning ending double play to keep the game scoreless.
The Cougars added insurance in the eighth as Taormina worked a one-out, four pitch walk. Senior Andy Lopez then lined a ball up the middle to put runners on first and third. Sophomore Matt Krupa came through with a liner in the gap that was misplayed to prolong the play, scoring Taormina and Lopez for a 4-0 lead. Fontana lined a triple into the corner later in the inning to score Krupa for the 5-1 advantage.
The Beacons erased the shutout in the eighth with a bases loaded walk to Ryan Olivo. Senior Vinny Zanfordino entered with two outs and the bases loaded and then got a pop up to end the threat.
Zanfordino (pictured left) then worked around a one out single in the bottom of the ninth to secure his second save in less than 24 hours.
Fitzgerald improve to 3-1 with seven and two thirds innings allowing just one run and six hits. He fanned seven and walked five in just his second start of the season.
