Union, N.J. (3/26/22) – The Kean University baseball team swept Eastern University by identical scores of 4-3 on Saturday afternoon.
Game One
The #20 Cougars (17-4) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first as Vincent Mele walked on four straight pitches to start the inning and later moved to third on a single from Philip Mahlik. Mahlik swiped second and a groundout from Michael Lapczynski scored the game's first run. Phil Marcantonio then launched his third homer of the season to put Kean ahead 3-0.
The Eagles (7-13) tied things up with two runs in the third off an RBI triple from Brad Clemens and a Cougar miscue. Mark Cruser made it three-all with an RBI double in the fourth.
Timothy Huxen pushed across the winning run in the fifth with an RBI groundout, scoring Mahlik who reached on a leadoff single.
Collin Kiernan (5-0) earned the win after tossing six innings with six strikeouts. Dylan Taliaferro picked up a save finishing out the contest allowing just two hits along the way.
Offensively Mahlik and Lapczynski were each 2-for-4.
Game Two
The nightcap needed 12 innings for a conclusion, but the score remained the same as the opener. Tied at two-all in the 12th inning, the Eagles took the lead as Brian Lang led off with a double. Griffin Falco followed with an RBI single for a 3-2 advantage. Later in the inning with the bases loaded and no outs, relief pitcher Nolan Rowan was able to work out of trouble with two strikeouts sandwiched around an infield fly to stop the rally.
Mahlik walked to start the bottom of the 12th and Lapczynski followed that up with a double to put both runners in scoring position. A walk to Marcantonio loaded the bases and back-to-back sac flies tied and won the game for Kean for the sweep.
Conner DeForge and Lapczynski each had two hits for Kean.
Rowan (3-0) earned the win but not to be lost was the pitching performance of starter Justin Diefenbach. He tossed nine innings with nine strikeouts, four hits and two runs allowed.
The Cougars enjoy a short break before opening conference play next Saturday, April 2nd at Rutgers-Camden.
