Union, N.J. (3/1/11) – Senior Ken Gregory tied things up with an RBI triple in the bottom of the ninth and scored the winning run as the #2/4 Kean University baseball team defeating visiting Muhlenberg College, 5-4, Tuesday afternoon in non-conference action.
Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth, sophomore Nick Ramagli led off the inning with a single through the left-side. Gregory then ripped a triple into dead centerfield to tie things up at four-all. Senior Nick Nolan then lofted a fly ball to rightfield, but it was not deep enough to score Gregory. However an errant throw from the outfield towards home plate allowed Gregory to score the game-winning run.
Muhlenberg (2-1) went ahead in their half of the eighth inning as they plated three runs. Senior Joseph DeCecilia got things going with an RBI triple. With two outs, junior Jesse Nusbaum recorded an RBI triple of his own to knot the game at three-all. Senior Clint Lynch then struck out swinging but reached first on a wild pitch which allowed Nusbaum to score the go-ahead run.
Kean (5-0) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first as junior Vinny Galya led things off with a triple. Senior Chris Carrano singled him home for the game's first run. The Cougars would plate two more in the frame off an error and wild pitch.
The Cougar pitching staff combined for 18 strikeouts in the win. That is the most for a single-game in modern record keeping. Southpaw Ryan Zamorsky earned a no-decision after tossing six innings allowing one run, unearned, and three hits. He fanned 10 and walked two. Senior Chris Cirlincione (1-0) earned the win in relief. He threw one and a third innings allowing two walks while striking out three. Sophomore Greg Baruka fanned the side looking in his appearance in the seventh.
Sophomore Ryan Rechten (0-1) suffered the loss for the Mules. He allowed two runs, one earned, in one and a third innings of work.
Catcher Eddie Jennings finished the day with two hits for the Cougars while sophomore John Muha and Nusbaum each had two for the Mules.
Kean returns to action on Thursday when they face DeSales University at 2:30 p.m.