Wayne, N.J. (4/8/23) – The Kean University baseball team swept host William Paterson University by the finals of 9-1 and 3-2 on Saturday afternoon in NJAC action.
Game One – Kean 9, WP 1
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Cougars (16-11, 5-1 NJAC) jumped out to a 3-0 lead after three innings of play. Tyler Provost drove in one with a single in the first inning and he added another in the third with a sac fly. Phil Marcantonio laced an RBI double for the three run advantage.
The teams' traded single runs in the seventh before Kean opened up the game with five runs in the eighth. The Cougars collected RBI singles from Justin Teixeira, Caleb Rodriguez and Nick Houghton. Christian Pellone closed out the scoring with a sac fly.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
Jason Gilman (1-0) earned the win in his first appearance of the season. Gilman tossed six innings of two hit, shutout ball. He fanned 10 and walked five.
Four Cougars collected two hits each as Kean recorded 12 hits in the opener. Houghton led all players with three RBI.
Game Two – Kean 3, WP 2
HOW IT HAPPENED:
It was a pitchers' duel as neither team was able to score until the sixth inning.
William Paterson (13-9, 2-3 NJAC) broke up the shutout with a single run in the bottom of the sixth, scoring on a Cougar miscue.
Kean took the lead for good in the seventh as Rodriguez drove home Teixeira with two outs. Teixeira would later score for the 2-1 lead.
The Cougars scored what would turn out to be the winning run in their half of the eighth as Pellone homered to leftfield (3-1).
The Pioneers did not go away quietly and loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth with two outs. Carson Weis recorded an RBI with a hit-by-pitch, but Collin Kiernan was able to shut the door with a ground out to walk away with the complete game win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
Pellone and Rodriguez were each 2-for-4 with an RBI.
On the mound, Kiernan (3-4) allowed seven hits and seven walks. He struck out nine.
UP NEXT:
Kean travels to Ramapo College on Thursday.
