Union, N.J. (4/27/24) – The Kean University baseball team split their final NJAC regular season games on Saturday in a long day of baseball, falling in the opener, 4-3 in 11 innings and winning the nightcap, 10-9 in 14 innings.
With tonight's win, head coach Neil Ioviero recorded his 800th career victory, all at Kean, in the midst of his 27th season.
Game One – Rutgers-Newark 4, Kean 3 (11 inn.)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Christian Pellone collected an RBI double in the first for a quick 1-0 lead.
The Scarlet Raiders took the lead in the seventh with three runs on two RBI hits and an RBI sac bunt.
Kean then tied things up in the eighth as Caleb Rodriguez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Kyle Adorno registered an RBI groundout.
Rutgers-Newark scored the winning run in the 11th as Paul Recchia singled to start the inning. A sacrifice moved him into scoring position and a groundout moved him 90 feet away. Devin Rojas delivered with an RBI single.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
Pellone, Adorno and Dan Reistle all had two hits for Kean.
Chase Ostrowski (3-3) earned the win in relief with three shutout innings. Vince Taylor (1) recorded the save with a clean 11th frame.
Game Two – Kean 10, Rutgers-Newark 9 (14 innings)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
It was a crazy see-saw battle that saw Adorno come to the plate 9 times.
Tied at eight-all, the Scarlet Raiders went ahead with a single run in the 11th on an RBI single.
Kean tied it right back up with an RBI groundout.
The Cougars ended the game in the 14th as Adorno reached on a throwing error with one out. Two intentional walks loaded the bases and Tyler Stone lofted a sac fly for the win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
JT Abrusci broke a long held single-game record for at bats in a game as he recorded eight in the contest.
Noah Rivera earned the win after suffering the loss in the opener. He tossed three and a third innings of shutout relief.
UP NEXT:
Kean hosts Rowan University on Tuesday in the first round of the NJAC Tournament at 3:30 p.m.