Union, N.J. (5/24/25) – The Kean University baseball team claimed the NCAA Division III Union Super Regional Championship with a 5-2 win in the winner-take-all matchup on Saturday afternoon.
Game One – Salve Regina 5, Kean 4
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Game two of the series started off similarly to game one, with both pitchers keeping things under control early, allowing no runs.
The Cougars (40-9) scratched across a single run in the fourth as Tyler Stone registered a one out single. Later with two outs, Dan Reistle found open space in right with a double and Stone scored all the way from first for a 1-0 early lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, Salve (36-9) took the lead with a two out double from leadoff hitter Brandon Grover, driving in two.
The see-saw affair ensued and the Cougars regained the lead in the top of the eighth. Dominic Masino lined a one out double and Kyle Adorno and Stone walked to load the bases. CJ Tomalavage worked a walk on four straight pitches to tie things up at two-all. Reistle, who was hit five times during the course of the day, notched an RBI with a hit-by-pitch, to put Kean ahead. Brett Hilsheimer added one more on an RBI single.
In the pivotal bottom of the ninth, the Seahawks loaded the bases with two walks and a Kean miscue. Evan O'Rourke delivered and tied the game up with a two RBI single and no outs. After another single loaded the bases, Shane Williams forced the winner-take-all matchup with a long single to center.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
Masino was 3-for-5 while Hilsheimer was 2-for-3.
Jason Gilman recorded eight strikeouts in his first loss of the season.
Game Two – Kean 5, Salve Regina 2
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Kean didn't waste any time, and jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Adorno got aboard with a four pitch walk and Stone followed that with a single. Reistle found a hole and pushed across the game's first run. Stone made it 2-0 after crossing the plate on a balk and Hilsheimer rounded out the scoring with a single.
The Seahawks put up two in the same frame as the first four batters registered hits. Starter Christian Pareja was able to work out of the early jam with a double play.
The score would remain that way until the eighth inning when Kean added some insurance. It was John Chiusano's turn to be hit-by-a-pitch and Justin Teixeira and Nick Sellari followed with singles to load the bases with no outs. After a pitching change, Masino and Adorno each collected sacrifices to give Kean a 5-2 advantage.
Cal Chase entered in the bottom of the ninth and nailed down the save with three groundouts.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
Pareja (6-1) settled in nicely and tossed eight innings, allowing eight hits and one walk.
Stone collected two hits in the win.
UP NEXT:
Kean will face a yet to be determined opponent on Friday in Eastlake, Ohio. This will be their first appearance at the finals site since 2013.
