Union, N.J. (2/18/23) – The Kean University baseball team used pitching gems to sweep visiting Franklin & Marshall College on Saturday by the finals of 7-1 and 1-0.
Game One: Kean 7, F&M 1
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Diplomats scratched across an unearned run in the top of the first Tommy Denlinger singled to start things off, moved to second after a walk, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a throwing error.
The Cougars (5-1) tied things up in the bottom of the third also on an unearned run as Kyle Adorno led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice and scored on an overthrow.
Kean took the lead for good with a run in the bottom of the fifth as Caleb Rodriguez reached on a leadoff single. He swiped second and scored on a Christian Pellone RBI single.
Kean added insurance with a four-spot in their half of the sixth. The Cougars benefitted with three walks, two hit batsmen and an error. Josh Jackson rounded out the scoring with a single run in the eighth as he led off with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice and scored on a wild pitch.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
Collin Kiernan (2-0) earned his second win of the season as he fired eight innings allowing just one unearned run and three hits. He walked just one and struck out 11. Noah Rivera closed out the ninth facing one over the minimum with two strikeouts.
Game Two – Kean 1, F&M 0
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Justin Diefenbach (1-1) fired a complete game shutout allowing just five singles along the way. He walked no one and struck out 13.
The Diplomats were also impressive on the mound, holding the Cougars to just seven hits by the starter Greg Nieskens.
The game's only run of the day came in the bottom of the fifth as Adorno and Brett Hilsheimer led off with back-to-back singles. After a successful sacrifice moved them both into scoring position, Franklin & Marshall elected to walk Pellone to load the bases. Gianni Marano lofted a sac fly for what would be the game's only run.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
Adorno, Hilsheimer and Marano each had two hits apiece.
Pat Elliott had the only multi hit day with two hits in the nightcap.
UP NEXT:
Kean will face Misericordia University on Friday afternoon as part of the Jack Nagy Classic at Jim Hynes Stadium.
