Union, N.J. (4/22/23) – The Kean University baseball team split with the College of New Jersey in NJAC action on Saturday winning the opener, 11-5 and falling in the nightcap, 7-0.
Game One – Kean 11, TCNJ 5
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Both starters struggled early as The College of New Jersey (16-19, 7-7 NJAC) plated four runs in the top of the first. TCNJ loaded the bases with a single, walk and hit batter and Chris Reeder drove in the first run of the day with a single. Andrew Fernandez followed with an RBI single of his own to make it 2-0 with no outs and the bases still loaded.
Collin Kiernan started to settle in and struck out the next two batters. Zach Weiner found a hole in the infield and drove in two more for a quick 4-0 lead.
The Cougars (22-12-1, 11-2-1 NJAC) responded with three in the bottom of the same inning as Brett Hilsheimer doubled with one out and came around to score on a two out single from Phil Marcantonio. Gianni Marano doubled to put runners on second and third and Josh Jackson came through with a single to drive them both home.
Things settled down after that and neither team was able to score until the fifth inning. Kean tied it up as Hilsheimer singled with one out and Marcantonio was hit by a pitch. Marano lined a single up the middle to knot the game at four-all.
The Cougars took their first lead of the day in the bottom of the seventh as Marcantonio doubled with two outs and Marano switched places with him with a double of his own.
The Lions tied things right back up in the top of the eighth as Reeder led off with a double and Fernandez followed with a single to put both in scoring position with no outs. Sebastian JnoBaptiste lofted a one out sac fly to knot the game at five-all.
Kean then blew the game open in the bottom of the eighth. Back-to-back four pitch walks put two runners on for the Cougars and a fielder's choice sac bunt from Caleb Rodriguez loaded the bases with no outs. Kyle Adorno was hit by a pitch to bring in the go ahead run. Later with one out, Christian Pellone and Marcantonio both collected RBI hits without the ball leaving the infield. Later with the bases loaded again, Justin Teixeria drove in two with a single.
Kiernan retired the side in the ninth to earn the complete game win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
Marcantonio was 4-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI while Marano was 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI and one run scored. Hilsheimer ended the opener with two hits and three runs scored.
Kiernan earned the win after the complete game effort. He allowed five runs and 10 hits with six strikeouts and one walk.
Game Two – TCNJ 7, Kean 0
HOW IT HAPPENED:
TCNJ scored a lone unearned run in the top of the first with just one hit.
Jackson Malouf kept things in check and didn't face more than four batters each inning until the seventh.
Kean starter Nolan Rowan held the Lions until the sixth inning when Mike Lagravenis doubled to start the frame. Justin Marcario followed that with a single to put both runners in scoring position. One run scored on a groundout and Fernandez added another with an RBI single and now a 3-0 lead.
TCNJ put the game out of reach with four more in the seventh all with two outs. Lagravenis registered an RBI single, Jack Haynes scored on a wild pitch after walking to get on and Reeder doubled home two.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
Malouf improved to 4-1 with eight innings of work. He allowed six hits and two walks while fanning six.
For the Cougars, Marano had two of their six hits.
UP NEXT:
Kean hosts Montclair State University on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
