Union, N.J. (2/17/23) – The Kean University pitching staff combined on a one-hitter to give head coach Neil Ioviero his 750th career win as the baseball team picked up a 6-1 win over The College at Old Westbury on a blustery Friday afternoon.
Ioviero improves to 750-328-2 in his 26 seasons, all at Kean University.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Panthers (0-1) got their only run of the day without the aid of a hit in the top of the first as Jacob Taormina walked with one out. A hit batter put runners on first and second. An errant pickoff throw moved Taormina to third. Oscar Fajardo grounded out to score Taormina for a quick 1-0 lead.
The Cougars (3-1) took the lead for good in the same inning as Kyle Adorno led thing off with a double. Brett Hilsheimer followed with a triple to tie things up. Christian Pellone singled in the next at-bat as Kean took a 2-1 lead. Pellone would go on to score on an error and later in the inning Tyler Provost recorded an RBI single for a 4-1 advantage after one inning.
Kean made it 5-1 in their next at-bat as Adorno again led off the inning with a double. A sacrifice moved him 90 feet away and Phil Marcantonio drove him home with a double of his own.
Provost added another RBI to his total with the day's last run in the bottom of the fifth of a sacrifice fly.
The Panthers got their only hit of the day in the top of the eighth as Fajardo led off with a fading liner down the rightfield line.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
Nick Rappa (1-0) earned his first collegiate win of the year after tossing five and a third innings of scoreless ball. He struck out seven and walked two, giving up just one single. Starter Nick Nemes struck out three and walked four while allowing one unearned run in his two innings of work. Ryan Kulpa closed out the game with one and two thirds innings of shutout ball, fanning three.
Offensively Provost was 2-for-4 with two RBI while Adorno was 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Marcantonio and Nick Houghton were both 2-for-4 with a run scored.
UP NEXT:
Kean returns to action on Saturday when they host Franklin & Marshall in a doubleheader beginning at noon.
