Wayne, N.J. (4/10/21) – The Kean University baseball team split NJAC action with #23 William Paterson University, opening with a 13-5 victory in game one and falling just short in the nightcap, 5-4.

Game One – Kean 13, WP 5

Phil Marcantonio got the Cougars off on the right foot with a three run blast in Kean's first at-bat.  William Paterson (13-3, 4-1 NJAC) added two in the same inning.

It was a repeat inning in the third as Kean plated three in the top of the frame before the Pioneers added two in the bottom.

The Cougars put the game out of reach with four runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth. Zach Joe contributed with five RBI as he recorded a two RBI triple in the fifth and a bases clearing double in the sixth.

Joe was 3-for-5 and a homer shy of the cycle while Marcantonio was 1-for-4 with four RBI.

Justin Diefenbach (2-0) earned the win after tossing seven innings.

Game Two, WP 5, Kean 4

The Cougars jumped out to a 3-0 lead plating one run in the first and two more in the second.  Christian Pellone lofted a sac fly in the first.  Michael Medvetz added a solo shot while Frank LoGiudice tallied an RBI single.

The Pioneers evened up the score at three-all with two runs in the fourth and another in the fifth.  WP took the lead for good with a two RBI single from Dylan Habeeb in the seventh.

Kean had their chance in the ninth as Brandon Johannessen singled to pull the Cougars within one, but Dan Carter got a groundout to strand the tying run on third.

Carter earned the save while Zac Polzer picked up the win with two and a third innings of relief.

LoGiudice was 3-for-5 while Timothy Huxen and Johannessen were 2-for-4.

Kean returns to action on Thursday when they host Ramapo College.