Glassboro, N.J. (3/30/24) – The Kean University baseball team split with #6 Rowan University, winning the opener, 1-0, and falling in the nightcap, 4-2.
Game One – Kean 1, Rowan 0
HOW IT HAPPENED:
It was a classic pitchers' duel in the NJAC opener with both starters going the distance.
In an ironic twist, it was Kean's Nolan Rowan who picked up the win against Rowan at Rowan.
The Profs singled to start the bottom of the first and stole second with one out. Nolan worked around it and recorded a strike out and ground out to end the early threat.
RU again started off the second inning with a single, but Nolan was quick to erase the runner with a pick off. A walk and an error sandwiched around an out, put another runner in scoring position, but Nolan got out of the jam with a popup.
Kean broke through with what would be the winning run with their first hit of the game in the top of the fourth. Gianni Marano walked with one out and Phil Marcantonio doubled him home for the game's lone run.
Both starters cruised at this point with Kean's best scoring chance in the top of the eighth, but Mike Shannon (3-1) recorded his 11th strikeout and got a flyout to end the inning.
Nolan worked around a two out single in the bottom of the ninth to seal the win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
Nolan Rowan (5-1) allowed five singles and three walks while striking out four.
The game featured just eight combined hits, only one extra base hit and only one batter, Kean's Kyle Adorno, who collected more than one hit (2-for-4).
Game Two – Rowan 4, Kean 2
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The second game was playing out similar to the opener, with the Cougars having small opportunities early, before scratching across a run in the top of the sixth. Marano doubled to led things off and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Tyler Stone drove him home with a single for a 1-0 lead.
Starter Jason Gilman continued to cruise, tossing a no-hitter into the seventh inning, striking out 12.
Kean added to their lead in the top of the seventh with a single run. Caleb Rodriguez singled to open the frame and later came around to score on an RBI single from Justin Teixeira.
The Profs turned things around in the bottom of the same inning, chasing Gilman from the game. RU collected a double and a walk and after a sacrifice, Karson Harcourt tied things up with a double. Anthony Schooley followed with an RBI single to give Rowan their first lead of the day.
Phil Sedalis homered to lead off the bottom of the eighth to add to the Profs lead. Sean Colbert earned the save, striking out the side in the ninth, around a single.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
Kean outhit Rowan, 8-4. Teixeira, Stone and Adorno all had two hits each.
UP NEXT:
Kean travels to New Jersey City University on Thursday.
