Medford, Mass. (5/16/26) – The Kean University baseball team battled through the consolation bracket with two wins on Saturday, defeating fourth seeded Mitchell and top seeded Tufts by identical 11-6 scores.
Kean 11, Mitchell 6
After falling behind, 1-0, the Cougars took a lead they would not relinquish with two runs in the first and another pair in the second. Kean collected single RBI from Jude Clough and JT Abrusci with singles while Justin Teixeira drove in one with a double. John Chiusano rounded out the RBI with a bases loaded hit-by-pitch.
Kean added to their lead with three in the fourth. Abrusci and Chiusano registered RBI singles while Clough collected an RBI double.
Mitchell got two back with single runs in the fifth and sixth, to cut the deficit to 7-3, but the Cougars responded with a four run eighth to give themselves a cushion they would need in the ninth as Mitchell rallied for three runs. After two quick outs, the Mariners used back-to-back doubles and two singles to score three runs but reliever Anthony Holtje was able to work out of the jam with a looking strikeout.
Connor Ramsey earned the win after tossing eight and two thirds innings.
Offensively Sellari, Teixeira and Clough all had three hits while Chiusano had two hits and three RBI.
Kean 11, Tufts 6
The Cougars exploded for six runs in the fourth frame to lead wire-to-wire. Dan Reistle, Brett Hilsheimer, Dominic Masino and Clough each collected single RBI while Sellari knocked in two.
Kean made it a double-digit lead with four more in the fifth. Teixeira and Abrusci notched RBI singles while Sellari had his second two RBI single of the game.
The Jumbos scratched across three runs in the bottom of the same inning as with a sac fly and a two RBI double from Malcolm Whitfield.
Kean added one in the top of the ninth with a two out RBI single from Teixeira.
Tufts rallied for three unearned runs in the bottom of the ninth, but Jason Basilicata was able to get out of the jam with a groundout.
Basilicata earned the complete game win after striking out six. He allowed three earned runs and 11 hits.
Offensively Sellari was 2-for-5 with four RBI while Teixeira was 3-for-5 with two RBI.
Kean will square off against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Sunday at 3 p.m. and will need to defeat the Staggs twice to claim the regional championship.
