Ewing, N.J. (4/29/17) – The Kean University baseball team suffered a doubleheader sweep by #16 The College of New Jersey on Saturday afternoon in NJAC action.
The Cougars (22-17, 8-10 NJAC) fell by the final of 14-1 in the opener and 9-4 in the nightcap.
The NJAC Tournament field is now set as Kean sits as the fifth seed. The Cougars will travel to #2 Ramapo College on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. in the NJAC opening round.
Game One
After TCNJ scored a single run in the first on a two out single, the Cougars tied the game up in the fifth as Austin Arndt led off the fifth with a double and later scored on a sac fly from rookie Frank LoGuidice.
The Lions (27-10, 15-3 NJAC) then took over and scored six in the fifth and seven more in the seventh. In the fifth TCNJ benefitted from a Kean miscue for four unearned runs with two outs. Mike Follett started the surge in the seventh with a two RBI triple and later in the frame Thomas Persichetti added a two RBI double to highlight the offense.
T.J. Locatelli (1-1) suffered the loss after allowing two earned runs (seven runs total) on eight hits in five innings. Joe Cirillo (5-0) tossed a complete game allowing just seven hits and no earned runs.
Game Two
Tied 2-2 at the top of the seventh, Jim Fitzgerald doubled with one out and swiped third before crossing the plate on a sacrifice by Mike Fidanza to take a 3-2 lead.
TCNJ responded a took a lead they would not relinquish in the bottom of the same frame as a two out error extended the inning and allowed two runs to score. Two separate RBI singles pushed the Lion lead out to 7-3.
Offensively Frank Urso (pictured left) was 2-for-3 while Steve Santigate and Matt Krupa each registered solo homers in the loss.
