Montclair, N.J. (5/7/21) – The Kean University baseball team split with Montclair State University in the quarterfinal series of the NJAC Tournament on Friday as they opened with a 12-4 win and fell in the nightcap by the almost same score of 13-4.

Game One – Kean 12, MSU 4

Leading 5-3 after the fifth inning, the Cougars (16-13) opened the game up three runs in the sixth and another in the seventh.  Kean took advantage of a miscue and Timothy Huxen drove in two with a single up the middle.  Frank LoGiudice helped his own cause with a sac fly in the seventh.

The Cougars put the game out of reach with three more in the ninth on RBI singles from LoGiudice, Huxen and Christian Pellone.

LoGiudice picked up the win on the mound as he tossed five innings allowing three runs and eight hits.  He (3-1) struck out three and walked five.  Collin Kiernan earned his first save of the year as he tossed four relief innings allowing just one run and three hits.

Offensively Huxen was 2-for-4 with two walks and three RBI.  Philip Mahlik was 2-for-4 with two walks and three runs scored while Zachary Marzano was 2-for-5 with two RBI, two runs scored and a homerun.

Game Two – MSU 13, Kean 4

The Red Hawks (20-9) used a five run, third inning to propel out to a 10-0 lead on their way to the final of 13-4.  Kean scratched across a run in the sixth as Huxen collected an RBI single.  The Cougars then closed out the game by scoring three more in the eighth as Josh Jackson doubled, driving home two.

Pellone was 3-for-4 for Kean.  Andrew Ollwerther was 4-for-6 with three RBI and three runs scored for MSU.

The two teams will square off again on Saturday in the deciding game of the series.  First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.