Union, N.J. (3/27/21) – Both games required extra innings as the Kean University and Rutgers-Camden baseball teams split in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon by the finals of 6-4 (RUC) and 6-5 (Kean).
Game One – Rutgers-Camden 6, Kean 4 (11 innings)
The first matchup of the day featured a strong pitchers' duel with five plus scoreless innings. The Cougars (5-4) struck first as Cristian Corcione walked, stole second and came around to score on a Phil Marcantonio single.
Rutgers-Camden (1-5) evened things up in their next at-bat with an RBI single from Billy Eisler (one of five hits for him in the opener).
The Cougars then pushed across three in the bottom of the seventh as Philip Mahlik walked with the bases loaded, Corcione lined a sacrifice fly and Marcantonio was hit-by-a-pitch with the bases loaded.
R.J. Concepcion cut the deficit in half (4-2) in the top of the eighth with an RBI double.
In the pivotal ninth inning, the Scarlet Raptors rallied with two outs. Eisler got things going with a single up the middle and later came around to score on a single by Brett Yurgin. Jesse Gerdes walked and later scored on a wild pitch which tied things up at four-all.
Rutgers-Camden took the lead for good in their half of the 11th as Eisler led off the inning with a single. He scored after an errant throw off a sacrifice bunt attempt. Yurgin added insurance with an RBI double.
Kevin Stewart had a no-decision after tossing eight innings allowing one earned run and six hits with nine strikeouts and three walks. Stephen Brady earned the win in relief. Brady (1-1) tossed three innings allowing just one hit. He fanned four and walked three.
Game Two – Kean 6, Rutgers-Camden 5 (11 innings)
The two teams each plated two runs in the third inning before the Cougars broke the tie with a three-run sixth. Christian Pellone and Gianni Marano each had one out singles and later in the inning Mahlik walked with two outs to load the bases. Corcione singled deep in the hole for one run and Frank LoGiudice and Chris Ciaccio each walked with the bases still loaded for a 5-2 lead.
Rutgers-Camden got within one in the top of the eighth as Danny Vasquez singled to start the inning and Eisler followed up with a double to put both in scoring position. Back-to-back groundouts to the right side scored them both (5-4).
The Scarlet Raptors forced extras as they plated one in the ninth with small ball. Concepcion got aboard with a leadoff single and moved to second on a bunt, third on a wild pitch and scored on a sac fly.
Kean won it in the bottom of the 11th as Mahlik reached on an error. A sacrifice moved him into scoring position. LoGiudice was intentionally walked and both moved up on a wild pitch. After a lineout to third for the second out, Marcantonio was intentionally walked to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Dren Gocaj then worked a four pitch walk for the win.
Collin Kiernan earned a no-decision after tossing the first 10 innings. Nick Nemes (1-0) earned his first collegiate win with a 1-2-3 inning.
Kean enjoys a small break and returns to action next Saturday when they open NJAC play against Rowan University.
