Union, N.J. (3/22/11) – The #6/4 Kean University baseball team scored in all but two innings as they topped visiting SUNY College at Old Westbury, 13-5, Tuesday afternoon in non-conference action.
The Cougars (13-3) were led by senior Nick Nolan who was 3-for-4 with four RBI, a double and triple. Old Westbury (4-8) was led by Josef Schaetzle who was 3-for-4 with a double and RBI.
The Panthers took advantage first, with four runs in their first at-bat, aided by two walks and two Cougar miscues. The Cougars got right back into things with two runs in the bottom of the first thanks to a Lee Cavico homerun.
Kean then tied things up in the third as Nolan tripled home two. Both teams traded single runs in the fourth before the Cougars took their first lead of the game, which would be for good, with four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Nolan provided a two RBI ground-rule double brining home Cavico, who reached on a walk, and senior Ken Gregory, who had a ground-rule double of his own. Catcher Sean Kelly then recorded an RBI single and senior Chris Carrano rounded out the scoring with an RBI sacrifice fly.
The Cougars would score two more in the sixth and eighth to put the game out of reach.
Reliever Greg Baruka earned the win. Baruka (2-0) tossed four innings allowing just three hits, he also struck out two. Not to be lost was a good relief outing provided by sophomore Nick Zucchero. Zucchero threw three and a third innings allowing one run and four hits. He walked one and fanned one.
Sophomore Kevin Briffa suffered the loss for Old Westbury. He (0-1) was charged with three runs without recording an out in the fifth.
Offensively Cavico was 2-for-2 with four runs scored and three RBI while junior Vinny Galya was 1-for-2 with two runs scored, two walks, two stolen bases and an RBI.