Montclair, N.J. (4/12/24) – Kean University used the long ball to push past #12/8 Montclair State University by the final of 12-6 on Friday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Montclair took an early 2-0 lead in the second with back-to-back doubles.

Kean tied things up in the top of the third as Phil Marcantonio recorded an RBI groundout and the Red Hawks committed a throwing miscue.

The Cougars took their first lead of the day as Christian Pellone singled in the top of the fourth, scoring Caleb Rodriguez who reached on a leadoff single.

Tied 3-3 entering the seventh, the Cougars blew the game open as Marcantonio and Gianni Marano started things off with back-to-back homers.  Later in the inning, Kean had two runners aboard via walks and Pellone brought everyone home with a homer, the third for Kean in the inning to take an 8-3 lead.

The Cougars added four more in the eighth to take a 12-3 lead.  Rookie Dan Reistle connected on his first collegiate homerun while Rodriguez scored on a miscue.  Justin Teixeira and Tyler Stone later recorded RBI singles. 

The Red Hawks got two back in the bottom of the same inning with a two run homer.

Montclair rallied in the bottom of the ninth scoring one, but Noah Rivera was able to work out of the jam with a pop up and groundout.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

Pellone was 3-for-5 with four RBI while Teixeira, Stone and Rodriguez all collected three hit days.

In total, Kean pounded out 18 hits.

On the mound, Rob Salvatore earned the win to improve to 3-1.  He tossed eight and a third innings, striking out six and walking two.

UP NEXT:

Kean returns home to face William Paterson in a doubleheader on Saturday.